(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
June 14, 2016 - 8:00 AM
LILLOOET - A British Columbia Mountie has been charged with theft after guns and other items were allegedly taken from an evidence locker.
A statement from the RCMP says an internal audit and review of the Lillooet detachment's evidence locker was done in February 2015.
The review found evidence that exhibits which were supposed to be destroyed may have been improperly processed or handled.
The information was forwarded to Crown counsel, and a sergeant with the detachment has been charged with four counts of breach of trust and four counts of theft.
The statement says the charges related to two firearms, growing nutrients and a generator, and incidents between May 2010 and July 2012.
The officer is currently suspended with pay and is scheduled to appear in Lillooet Provincial Court on Tuesday.
RCMP Chief Superintendent Brad Haugli said in a statement that the integrity of exhibit handling and processing is a priority for the force.
"Allegations of police officer misconduct are rare but taken seriously," said the southeast district commander. "A thorough investigation was conducted, our investigative findings were assessed by Crown, charges have been laid and now I await the decision of the courts.
Lillooet is a community of about 2,300 people located 170 kilometres west of Kamloops.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016