Carcross, Yukon, RCMP officer under investigation for assault

An RCMP officer in Carcross, Yukon, is being investigated after allegedly assaulting a man who was being transported in a police vehicle on May 15.

A police statement says the officer "is alleged to have committed an assault" and threatened a man who was being transported in the back of a police vehicle. 

Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding says the officer involved reported the alleged assault. 

"The detachment commander in Carcross was out of town that weekend. As soon as he returned to the community, the member involved explained what happened. He identified that an incident did occur, with the full understanding that an investigation would be arising from what he had explained," Kaeding says.

Yukon RCMP says its Major Crimes Unit has completed an investigation. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will review the investigation.

Kaeding cannot say when that report is expected. 

"To be fair to them, and not to put any undue influence on them, we don't want to place any demands on them, so it's strictly on their schedule, when they're able to do a thorough investigation," he said. 

Carcross Tagish First Nation chief Danny Cresswell will be the community liaison in the case.

In a statement, RCMP say the police officer in question has been on scheduled time off since the incident and will be assigned to administrative duties upon his return to work.  

"Upon completion of the investigative process, his duty status will be determined," the statement said.