Vernon RCMP officer charged with assault

A Vernon RCMP officer has been charged with assault.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP Const. Ryan Carey is facing one charge of assault for an incident that allegedly took place in the Vernon area on New Year's Eve 2021.

Details surrounding the assault are not currently known.

Several years ago the 34-year-old officer was part of Vernon RCMP's downtown enforcement unit, a team who regularly came into contact with the city's street entrenched.

The officer has his first court appearance March 23.

While the assault is alleged to have taken place on Dec. 31, 2021, it's not clear why it's taken more than a year for a charge to be laid. Court documents show that the investigation appears to have been conducted by Nelson RCMP.

It's also not clear whether Carey, who has been an RCMP officer for roughly a decade, is still working or has been placed on leave.

Vernon RCMP Supt. Shawna Baher refused to comment on the situation and referred iNFOnews.ca to the detachment's communications department.

Emails and calls to the communications department were not returned.

Carey's lawyer also refused to comment.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

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