Alberta RCMP officer charged with assault for punching suicidal woman

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 05, 2025 3:19 PM EST | Last Updated: March 5

An Alberta RCMP serviceman has been charged with battle causing bodily harm for punching a pistillate who was detained past year while experiencing a intelligence wellness crisis.

In a quality merchandise Wednesday, RCMP said an serviceman from the Fort Saskatchewan detachment has been charged with battle causing bodily harm successful transportation with an apprehension made on March 14, 2024.

RCMP charged Const. Justin Forster past week, astir a twelvemonth aft an probe into his usage of unit began. 

According to the RCMP statement, the alleged battle occurred after officers were called astir a idiosyncratic experiencing intelligence wellness issues astatine a location successful Fort Saskatchewan, astir 25 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.

"Upon arrival, officers located the suicidal idiosyncratic and placed them nether apprehension nether the Mental Health Act," RCMP said.

An altercation occurred, resulting successful the serviceman "delivering a strike" to the person, RCMP said.

The idiosyncratic was taken to the infirmary for treatment, constabulary said. Police did not remark connected the grade of the woman's injuries.

In Alberta, the Mental Health Act allows for a idiosyncratic suffering from a intelligence disorder to beryllium apprehended and detained involuntarily for examination, attraction oregon care. 

Cpl. Troy Savinkoff told CBC that a woman was detained and that she was allegedly punched by the serviceman wrong the home. 

In aboriginal May, 2024, the unfortunate lodged a ailment with the RCMP, constabulary said. 

"She launched a nationalist ailment straight with america and we instantly started a statutory investigation, which is fundamentally a transgression investigation," Savinkoff said.

"We took it connected ... and did our own investigation into it." 

Forster is expected to look successful court April 3 astatine the Alberta Court of Justice successful Fort Saskatchewan.

After being charged, Forster was placed connected administrative duties, RCMP said.

If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize is struggling, here's wherever to look for help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call oregon substance 988.