Calgary police officers charged with assault head to trial in March
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: December 14, 2016 6:55 PM | Last Updated: December 15, 2016
WARNING: This story contains images that some may find disturbing
The three Calgary police officers charged with assaulting a man during a violent arrest in the summer will face a week-long trial in March 2017.
James Othen, 38, Kevin Humfrey, 33, and Michael Sandalack, 31, are each charged with assault causing bodily harm.
An out-of-town judge will preside over the trial, and a prosecutor from Edmonton has been assigned the file, to avoid any possible conflict of interest, given the trio are local police officers.
Clayton Prince, 34, suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs during his arrest on July 30.
When an officer attempted a traffic stop on a white SUV in a parking lot in the 6700 block of Macleod Trail South, Prince got out and ran from the car.
He was allegedly assaulted while lying on the ground handcuffed, according to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).
The officers only came under investigation after video from a police dashcam surfaced that contradicted their accounts of the incident.
The lead investigator from ASIRT was in the courtroom as the trial dates were set.
Othen faces additional charges of mischief and assault with a weapon for allegedly digging a key into Prince's neck.
Humfrey is also charged with two counts of public mischief.
The mischief charges relate to false statements the two officers are alleged to have given that led to Prince being charged with resisting arrest, which was later stayed.
Othen and Humfrey are suspended with pay pending review while Sandalack remains on administrative duties.
The trial begins March 28, 2017.
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- An earlier version of this story said the trial was set to begin March 18, 2017. In fact it is set to begin March 28, 2017. December 15, 2016 4:04 AM