Assault charge tossed against RCMP instructor

Angry complainant says he is against alternative measures

An RCMP instructor’s assault charge has been withdrawn following the successful completion of the Regina Alternative Measures Program (RAMP) — and the complainant in the incident is not happy about it.

Charlie Littlemore said he was invited to attend RAMP, but didn’t make it through a single meeting before deciding against further participation.

But Cpl. Philippe Marcel Cleroux continued with the program and, on Tuesday, had his charge tossed out after completing RAMP.

According to RAMP’s website, the program accepts participants based on a number of criteria, among them that the offender accepts responsibility for his or her actions and that there is sufficient evidence to support the charge. Certain assault charges can be accepted as long as the offender doesn’t have a substantial record for similar offences or recent charges, didn’t use a weapon and didn’t commit the assault in the course of family violence, among other parameters.

At the time the charge was laid, the Regina Police Service reported the incident occurred in the early afternoon of Sept. 11, 2016, in the drop-off/pickup lane in front of Regina International Airport’s entrance/exit.

City police said it was alleged the driver of one vehicle approached the driver of a vehicle parked behind and punched him in the face when the second driver rolled down his window.

City police investigated the incident for several months before charging the then-37-year-old defensive tactics facilitator with the RCMP’s training academy.

The case was soon after referred to RAMP, and Littlemore briefly attended before ultimately deciding he was “not in favour of the Alternative Measures Program” — at least for cases such as this one.

“If that’s the Canadian justice system, I’m afraid we’re in a sad state of affairs,” he said.

Cleroux was not present in court when his charge was withdrawn

If that’s the Canadian justice system, I’m afraid we’re in a sad state of affairs.

on Tuesday, and he could not be reached for comment. Cleroux’s defence lawyer Darren Kraushaar confirmed his client is still employed by the RCMP, but is planning to move to British Columbia.

At the time the charge was laid, the RCMP said it had initiated a Code of Conduct investigation which could, depending on its outcome, lead to internal discipline. The code applies to members whether on-duty or off.

The RCMP did not respond prior to deadline to a requested update on Cleroux’s status or the progress of the internal investigation.

While Cleroux is free of a criminal record, his legal troubles might not be over as Littlemore said he is looking into launching a civil lawsuit in this matter.