Assault charges dropped against police union president over 2008 traffic stop

Assault charges against the head of the city’s police union have been withdrawn.

But Calgary Police Association president Les Kaminski still faces perjury charges in connection with a 2008 traffic stop that led to the arrest of Hells Angels member Jason Arkinstall. Kaminski’s defence counsel, Alain Hepner, says he expects his client’s trial to begin in the fall.

“Les Kaminski is a 31-year police officer who has put his life on the line several times on behalf of the community,” he said. “We will present a very strong defence.”

Earlier this year, assault causing bodily harm charges in the same incident against Const. Brant Derrick were also dropped, replaced with a charge of common assault.

The Alberta Serious Investigation Response Team (ASIRT) launched its investigation of the incident in early 2014 and later recommended perjury and assault with a weapon charges to the Crown last June.

That came after Arkinstall, charged with obstructing police, assaulting a police officer and uttering threats, was acquitted in 2011. In his decision, provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk said both Kaminski and Derrick provided evidence that was “unreliable and not credible.”

Arkinstall’s acquittal prompted the Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyers Association to request an investigation by the Alberta police watchdog, claiming the two officers used excessive force during the arrest and lied about it in court.

An internal review by CPS following Arkinstall’s acquittal initially found no formal investigation into the pair’s actions was warranted.