Kelowna Mountie charged with assault: Crown

A charge of assault has been approved against an RCMP officer from Kelowna.

The BC Prosecution Service says in a news release the charge was sworn against Const. Siggy Pietrzak on Wednesday.

The BC Prosecution Service announced today that a charge of assault has been approved against an RCMP officer involved in the arrest of a suspected impaired driver in Kelowna on May 30, 2020. Read more here. https://t.co/YGgko6Stc3 #BCPS #RCMP pic.twitter.com/aWOfehd5Ea

— BCProsecutionService (@BCProsecution) April 14, 2021

The service says the charge relates to the arrest of a suspected impaired driver in Kelowna in May last year.

A news release from Kelowna RCMP says the man was unco-operative with police and arrested for obstructing police, but the actions of one of the officers were later reviewed by an external police agency.

The officer remains suspended with pay and his first scheduled court appearance is set for May 3 in Kelowna provincial court.

The service says the charge was approved by an experienced Crown attorney with no connection to the officer.