Ex-officer, wife caught in graft scandal sue city police

A former police officer and his wife charged in a corruption scandal are suing the Calgary Police Service, alleging their rights were violated and reputations damaged, leading to a loss of business for their private investigation firm.

A statement of claim was filed Friday in the Court of Queen’s bench on behalf of Stephen Walton, a former CPS drug investigator, and his wife, Heather Walton, a former civilian employee of the force.

The suit stems from a twoyear anti-corruption investigation that led to criminal charges in July 2016 against the Waltons, a client of their private firm, and three other current and former police officers.

In a statement of claim, the Waltons allege their charter rights were violated over the course of the anticorruption investigation and that they were victims of defamation that resulted in a loss of business.

None of the allegations in the suit has been proven in court.

The Waltons are accused of criminally harassing the ex-wife of a wealthy client in the midst of divorce proceedings.

Police allege that the Waltons, with the assistance of members of CPS, illegally accessed police databases to obtain information that allowed them to follow and harass the ex-wife.

Stephen is also charged with offering a bribe, mishandling a firearm and perjury, while his wife is accused of offering a bribe and handling a firearm in a manner contrary to regulation.

Their client, Kenneth Robert Carter, is charged with criminal harassment and perjury.

Three others — two current CPS members and another retired officer — are charged in connection with the allegations.

The Waltons’ trial is set to begin in February 2018.

Another officer charged in the corruption probe is also suing Calgary police: Const. Bryan Morton alleges his charter rights were also violated by CPS.

The Waltons are suing for $5.5 million in damages, alleging their business suffered and they lost clients as a result of police actions, according to the statement of claim filed Friday. Morton is suing for $750,000.

The suit names several members of the anti-corruption unit as well as Calgary police Chief Roger Chaffin.

The suit alleges misconduct on the part of the defendants, accusing them of violating the Waltons’ rights when they were arrested and detained twice in 2015 and 2016.

In the statement of claim, the couple describe their arrest in August 2015 at a busy Beltline restaurant as unlawful and humiliating, alleging that it violated their privacy rights.

Heather Walton claims police officers refused to allow her to take medication prescribed to her for anxiety both times she was detained.

The suit also alleges that a previous sexual-harassment complaint made in 1999 by Heather provoked hostility toward her from CPS members.