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By Caden Fanshaw

RCMP Charged

Charge approved against RCMP officer in alleged Bear Lake incident

Aug 11, 2022 | 2:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against North District RCMP Cst. Jay Barban.

The charges are in connection with an on-duty motor vehicle incident alleged to have occurred on August 19, 2021, near Bear Lake.

An Information charging Cst. Barban with one count of driving without due care and attention contrary to section 144(1)(a) of the Motor Vehicle Act was sworn on August 11, 2022, under Provincial Court file number 77288.

The first appearance on this matter is scheduled for September 21, 2022, in Prince George Provincial Court.

This comes after a lengthy investigation by BC’s police watchdog who filed for consideration of charges against the officer in July 2022.

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At approximately 2:00 p.m. on August 19, 2021, an RCMP officer driving an unmarked police SUV was involved in a collision with a blue Kia Rio on Highway 97 near Industrial Way in the Bear Lake area.

The female driver of the Kia was transported to a hospital to be treated for what were believed to be minor injuries, and notification to the IIO was not completed at that time. The IIO was subsequently notified by the affected person in April, at which time the injuries were confirmed to meet the threshold of serious harm as defined by the Police Act.