Close X
Monday, January 6, 2025
ADVT 
National

B.C. police officer charged with sexual assault dies by suicide, reports say

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Dec, 2024 11:32 AM
  • B.C. police officer charged with sexual assault dies by suicide, reports say

Several British Columbia media reports say one of two Central Saanich Police officers charged with sexual assaulting a woman they met on duty has died by suicide.

The Times Colonist cites four sources saying 43-year-old Sgt. Matthew Ball has died, while other outlets cite police sources saying Ball died by suicide.

Mounties say in a news release they are investigating the discovery of a body in a forested area of Shawnigan Lake, which is about 40 kilometres northwest of Victoria.

RCMP say they are looking into whether any criminality was involved and the coroner's service is also investigating.

An RCMP spokesman would not identify the person who died, while Central Saanich Police, the BC Coroners Service and BC Emergency Health Services declined to comment.

Vancouver police said on Tuesday that Ball and 40-year-old Const. Ryan Johnston allegedly formed separate "intimate" and "inappropriate" relationships with the same woman in her mid-20s, and it did not appear the two officers acted together.

Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson of the Vancouver Police Department said at a Tuesday news conference that the investigation was launched on Oct. 28 at the request of Central Saanich Police after the woman came forward about the alleged offences.

Wilson called the allegations against Ball and Johnston "shocking and disturbing."

She said the investigation was ongoing and anyone with information was asked to contact police.

Ball, who was hired by Central Saanich Police in 2016 after 12 years of service with Calgary police, had faced one count of sexual assault and one count of breach of trust, for allegations that happened between Feb. 1, 2019, and Oct. 31, 2023. 

He was awarded a police exemplary service medal by the Governor General earlier this year. 

Johnston has been with Central Saanich Police since 2017 and is accused of one count of sexual assault for an alleged offence that occurred between Feb. 6, 2020, and March 8, 2020.

Wilson had said both officers were to face court on Tuesday for a bail hearing.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, support is available 24-7 by calling or texting 988, Canada's national suicide prevention helpline.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls

'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls
Several Liberal MPs are calling for a secret ballot vote on Justin Trudeau's leadership after he made clear he isn't going anywhere in spite of the calls from within his caucus to step down.  Two dozen members of caucus signed a letter that gave Trudeau until Monday to respond to their demand for his resignation as party leader.

'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls

Coast guard's North Pacific patrol uncovers shark finning, dark vessels

Coast guard's North Pacific patrol uncovers shark finning, dark vessels
The Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier is back in its home port in Victoria after its crew swept the North Pacific for unreported and unregulated fishing. The coast guard says in a statement that its officers and support personnel found illegally harvested shark fins, evidence of fishing in closed season, unreported catches and instances of marine pollution.

Coast guard's North Pacific patrol uncovers shark finning, dark vessels

Eby on track for majority as NDP takes lead in key riding, but recounts may loom

Eby on track for majority as NDP takes lead in key riding, but recounts may loom
The British Columbia NDP has overtaken the B.C. Conservatives in the ongoing count of absentee votes in a crucial Metro Vancouver riding, putting Premier David Eby on course to win government with a razor-thin majority. An update from Elections BC at 2 p.m. on Monday put the New Democrats ahead in the riding of Surrey-Guildford by 18 votes.

Eby on track for majority as NDP takes lead in key riding, but recounts may loom

Toxicity and tight race fuel B.C. election integrity doubters, says professor

Toxicity and tight race fuel B.C. election integrity doubters, says professor
University of British Columbia professor emeritus Richard Johnston says questions about mail-in votes and the handling of ballots also reflect circumstances south of the border. He said other factors include use of more complicated voting apparatus and social media platforms where anyone can publish doubts.

Toxicity and tight race fuel B.C. election integrity doubters, says professor

B.C. election: NDP takes lead in key riding, putting Eby on track for majority

B.C. election: NDP takes lead in key riding, putting Eby on track for majority
The NDP now leads Surrey-Guildford by 14 votes and if it hangs on there and in other races, it would have a one-seat majority in the 93-riding legislature. Elections BC officials are counting more than 22,000 absentee and special ballots provincewide today, nine days after the province’s election.

B.C. election: NDP takes lead in key riding, putting Eby on track for majority

Transportation minister looks for provinces, territories to collaborate on car thefts

Transportation minister looks for provinces, territories to collaborate on car thefts
The federal transportation minister says national co-operation is needed to close loopholes criminals can use to re-sell stolen cars. Anita Anand's office has sent letters to her provincial and territorial counterparts calling for meetings to discuss the issue of Vehicle Identification Numbers being changed on stolen cars which are then resold, a process known as "re-vinning" vehicles.

Transportation minister looks for provinces, territories to collaborate on car thefts