New Brunswick

RCMP accuses 3 of its officers of obstructing justice, destroying evidence

The New Brunswick RCMP has charged three of its own officers with obstruction of justice.

Charges laid in Moncton are related to officers' conduct during a 2019 operation, force says

A close-up picture of an RCMP badge.
A New Brunswick RCMP release says the three officers have been suspended with pay since Dec. 15, 2020. (CBC)

The New Brunswick RCMP has charged three of its own officers with obstruction of justice.

A news release by the RCMP says the charges were laid against  Cpl. Mathieu Potvin, Const. Eric Pichette and Const. Graham Bourque in Moncton provincial court on Dec. 28.

According to court documents, the three officers allegedly "wilfully [attempted] to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice, by destroying evidence during a criminal investigation" on May 15, 2019.

The release says the charges are related to the officers' conduct during a 2019 police operation.

The officers are scheduled to appear on March 15, and all three were suspended with pay on Dec. 15.

The RCMP's professional standards unit is conducting a separate investigation under the force's code of conduct.