A Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service (STPS) officer is facing charges of voyeurism after allegedly filming sexual acts without his partners' consent.
Cst. Michael English was previously placed on administrative leave, with pay, while the RCMP and Office of Police Complaints Commission investigated the allegations.
On Sept. 25, he was formally charged with three counts of voyeurism in connection to offences alleged to have been committed off-duty in Pemberton and Vancouver between 2020 and 2022.
Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Chief Officer Deborah Doss-Cody said in a release tribal police became aware of "alleged activities involving a member of their service" on Dec. 22, 2022. Doss-Cody said the member's suspension will remain in effect now that charges have been laid "until the Board and I review their current duty status.
"In our public media release on January 17, 2023, we stated that the STPS take any allegation of criminal wrongdoing by any employee of our police service very seriously," Doss-Cody continued. "The STPS and its employees enjoy a deep mutual trust and support with our ten communities. We are, therefore, extremely disappointed to hear the member of the STPS has been charged with these criminal offences."
English, and the nature of his charges, are not mentioned in the Stl'atl'imx release.
Because the allegations against English were reported to have occurred outside of STPS jurisdiction, the matter was turned over to the RCMP's E Division, Doss-Cody noted.
“The Sea to Sky Whistler RCMP wants to acknowledge the individuals who came forward to provide information and were patient through this lengthy investigation,” said Sgt. Jeffrey Shore, NCO i/c Sea to Sky RCMP General Investigation Section, in a release. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of victims, and our team remains committed to standing with them and supporting them through the Court process.”
A publication ban has been put in place to protect the identities of those involved.
English will make his first court appearance on Oct. 2 in North Vancouver Provincial Court.
"This matter is now before the Courts, and the Sea to Sky RCMP will not be releasing additional information or making any further comment," the release said.
The STPS encourages anyone affected by this case to contact Whistler-Pemberton RCMP Victim Services for information, and for confidential support, at 604-905-1969 or [email protected].
Check back with Pique for more as this story develops.
