Winnipeg police officer charged with assault

AWinnipeg police officer is charged with assault causing bodily harm following an investigation byManitoba's police watchdog.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba announced in June 2018 that it was looking into an allegation that on March 27, 2017, whileassisting other officers with an arrest, an off-duty officer punched and kneed a 32-year-old man.

The assault causeda number of head injuries.

On Tuesday, IIUcivilian directorZane Tessler saidthere are reasonable and probable grounds to believe a criminal offence occurred.

Patrol Sgt. Sean Cassidy was charged on Monday and will appear in provincial court in March.

After the arrest, the then-32-year-old was released without being charged. He then sought medical attention.

In spring 2018, the man complained to the Winnipeg Police Service about the alleged assault, saying he sustained permanent hearing loss because of it.

On April 10, 2018, the WPS notifiedthe IIU, which is mandatedto look into all serious incidents involving police officers in Manitoba, whether occurring on or off duty.

Because the matter is now before the court, the IIU said it will not make any further comment.