Special prosecutor named after mayor's complaint

British Columbia's prosecution service says a special prosecutor has been appointed to provide legal assistance and advice to the RCMP in connection with an investigation prompted by allegations from the mayor of Surrey that he was run over by a car.

It says the appointment of senior Vancouver lawyer Richard Fowler came after assistant deputy attorney general Peter Juk received a request from the Mounties for help during the early stages of an investigation.

The BC Prosecution Service says Juk concluded a special prosecutor was needed in light of allegations made by Mayor Doug McCallum amid ongoing public discussions about the RCMP in Surrey being replaced by a municipal police force.

The service says the appointment of a special prosecutor is intended to avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice, and that it was in the public interest to do so in this case.

Earlier this month, the RCMP asked anyone with information about an altercation between McCallum and the driver of a grey Ford Mustang outside a grocery store to come forward.

Police said the incident took place during a "Keep the RCMP in Surrey" gathering.

McCallum said then that he was grocery shopping when he was "verbally assaulted" and "run over by a car" but that he was doing OK.