3 cops charged in Prince George

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

PRINCE GEORGE — The BC Prosecution Service has approved charges against three Prince George RCMP officers caught on video that suggested excessive force was used while arresting two men found in a stolen pickup truck.

After a video from a security camera trained on an alley in the 2200-block Oak Street showing the arrest was provided to a Lower Mainland television station, B.C.’s civilian-based police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, looked into the matter and, in June 2018, submitted a report to the BCPS.

“The charge assessment process in this case was significantly delayed due to the complexity of the issues, the volume of initial disclosure, BCPS requests for further information, and subsequent receipt of additional disclosure,” the BCPS said in a statement Monday announcing the charges.

Nathaniel Lazarus Basil and Cuyler Richard Aubichon were arrested during the early morning of Feb. 18, 2016.

A video from a camera installed on a nearby home showed an RCMP officer using a service dog to pull Aubichon out of the truck and onto the ground before elbowing him in the head.

Three other officers were involved in the apprehension of Basil, who had got out on the other side. His arrest was largely out of the camera’s view but it appeared one of the officers had stomped on him.

“The charges were approved by an experienced Crown Counsel with no prior or current connection with the officers,” BCPS said.