A former Flin Flon Mountie remains suspended with pay months after being sentenced for assaulting a prisoner in 2012.
Cst. Jamie O’Brien had pleaded not guilty to one count of assault with a weapon and one count of assault causing bodily harm.
When his case went to trial last March, O’Brien was found guilty of one count of simple assault, a lesser charge than either of his initial charges.
At his sentencing on May 22 in Flin Flon, he received a 12-month conditional discharge with conditions.
After the charges were laid, the RCMP suspended O’Brien with pay. The RCMP confirmed Monday that this arrangement remained in place. They did not say how long the suspension would last.
The RCMP themselves announced the charges against O’Brien in a 2013 news release.
The release said he had allegedly “mishandled” a male prisoner while a member of the Flin Flon detachment on Aug. 30, 2012. The release did not specify the nature of the mistreatment.
When the assault allegations first surfaced eight days later, on Sept. 7, 2012, the Flin Flon detachment commander “immediately” launched an investigation, the RCMP said.
The findings of the investigation were subsequently forwarded to Manitoba Justice for review by a Crown attorney. Based on recommendations from Manitoba Justice, O’Brien was charged, making his first court appearance on Oct. 3, 2013.
O’Brien had joined the Flin Flon RCMP in 2009 fresh off of graduating from RCMP Academy, Depot Division in Regina.
