By James Peters, CFJC Today

Mountie charged

Williams Lake Mountie charged after 2020 pursuit left man seriously injured

Jul 27, 2023 | 2:10 PM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — A Williams Lake RCMP officer has been hit with several criminal charges after her 2020 pursuit of a man on a motorcycle resulted in serious injuries.

In a news release issued Thursday (July 27), the B.C. Prosecution Service says Cst. Madeline Hjelden is facing charges of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

The charges were sworn Thursday after a 2021 recommendation by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO).

The incident at the heart of the case took place on May 31, 2020 in Williams Lake.

According to the IIO, police were notified on that day of a distressed and intoxicated man who had left his home on a motorcycle.

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An officer tracked the man down and tried to speak with him, but he departed on the motorcycle.

The officer pursued the man, leading to what the IIO terms as “an interaction… between the motorbike and the police vehicle a short time later.”

The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in the incident and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The B.C. Prosecution Service says Hjelden’s first court date is yet to be determined.