Article content
A Calgary police officer has been charged in connection with the assault of a woman in custody during an on-duty incident that occurred in 2021.
Article content
According to the Calgary Police Service, officers responded to a call in the northeast community of Temple on June 17, 2021. The woman was taken into custody in handcuffs, but before she got into the police car, a struggle ensued.
Article content
At that point, force was used against her and the woman suffered “sustained injuries” that required a visit to the hospital, police said in a release Tuesday.
The woman died in September 2022, but police say the death is unrelated to the 2021 incident. The cause of death was not released because it was considered non-criminal.
St. Jameson Kooistra (31) is charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm in connection with the 2021 incident.
Kooistra has been with the Calgary Police Service for three years and has been assigned to administrative duties while his status is under review, CPS said in the news release.
Article content
Officer conduct is governed in Alberta by the Criminal Code of Canada, Alberta’s Police Act and the Police Service Regulation.
“Officers are allowed to use reasonable and necessary force in the performance of their duties, but they can be charged if there are grounds to believe the force was excessive or not necessary at all,” CPS said.
An internal investigation determines what happened and analyzes the officer’s actions against the law, CPS policies and training, and criminal charges can be brought against an officer if evidence supports the charge.
“When criminal charges are laid, the court process for those charges must be concluded before any internal discipline or dismissal can be considered,” Calgary police said.
sbabych@postmedia.com
