N.W.T. Mountie charged with theft

A former Yellowknife RCMP spokesman has been charged with theft, forging documents and uttering threats, the police force has announced.

Sgt. Larry O'Brien has been charged with theft under $5,000, breach of trust, and uttering forged documents in connection with money that went missing last year, the RCMP stated in a news release Tuesday morning.

O'Brien is scheduled to appear in territorial court in Yellowknife on Aug. 24. He has been suspended with pay from the RCMP since Feb. 26.

$2,000went missing

Police say the three charges stem from a Jan. 8, 2009, incident, in which police noticed $2,000 had gone missing from an evidence locker at the Yellowknife RCMP detachment.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Yellowknife, detachment commander Insp. David Elliott said missing money came from $239,000 seized in a joint N.W.T.-Nunavut drug bust.

The shortage was discovered on the day the cash was supposed to be deposited in the bank, Elliott said. The money was found the next day.

Following an outside investigation from the Edmonton RCMP's major crimes unit, which was completed in March, the Crown prosecutor's office determined that charges should be laid.

With regards the forgery charge, Elliott would not say what kind of document O'Brien is accused of forging, but said it is not related to the handling of evidence.

Accused of making threats

O'Brien has also been charged with uttering threats in connection with an incident Friday, whenElliott said six Yellowknife RCMP members were threatened.

Elliott would not give detailsof the alleged threats,except to say O'Brien did not make them face-to-face.

O'Brien was arrested, but later released with conditions. Elliott said O'Brienisbarred from contacting the six officers orbeing neartheir residences.

O'Brien has been with the RCMP for 21 years, about 13 of which were in Yellowknife and Hay River, N.W.T. He recently served as the Yellowknife RCMP's communications officer.

In addition to the criminal charges, O'Brien also faces an RCMP internal conduct review, according to police.

Calls by CBC News to O'Brien's home were not returned on Tuesday afternoon.