City cop cleared of assault charges involving pregnant ex-girlfriend

Calgary police Const. Mark McCullough is relieved assault allegations against him from his then- pregnant girlfriend have been tossed, his lawyer said Friday.

“He’s overwhelmed with emotion right now, it’s a long time coming,” defence counsel Cory Wilson said, shortly after provincial court Judge John Holmes acquitted McCullough on three assault charges.

“He was happy he was finally able to give his version of events and that he was found not guilty,” Wilson said. “He has maintained his innocence the entire time. He was the victim of domestic violence and it’s unfortunate that he had to go through and suffer the public humiliation.”

McCullough’s former fiancée, Jessica Nelson, testified in September she was assaulted by him on both Nov. 11 and Nov. 20, 2016, while she was more than 30 weeks pregnant with his child.

On the first date Nelson said she grabbed McCullough’s cellphone and ran from their home. She said he chased her and grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her to the ground. But McCullough testified he simply went after her and retrieved his phone without putting her on the ground.

Nine days later she said they had another altercation in their often tumultuous relationship. On that occasion she said he grabbed her and lifted her up by her stomach. “He had lifted me by our baby.” But McCullough offered a different version of events. He told Wilson Nelson had struck him and he put her in a bear hug to get her out of the area. The dispute continued upstairs when Nelson went to pack after McCullough told her to leave.

Nelson said the officer put his hands around her neck, but he said she attacked him.

Holmes said the Crown failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“There was no doubt in my mind he would be acquitted,” Wilson said. “Mr. McCullough was a victim of domestic violence and at all times acted in self-defence.”

Despite the acquittal, McCullough’s legal woes are not done.

He still faces other criminal charges in connection with allegations he interfered with an impaired driving investigation.

He’s charged with breach of trust and obstruction of justice stemming from a Nov. 11, 2015, impaired driving call. McCullough was suspended with pay in connection with the assault allegations when the other charges arose. Those are back in court next week.