Whistler RCMP officer Devon
Jones has been found guilty of assault causing bodily harm after an altercation
with a fellow officer during the 2006 Mountie Stomp Dance.
The decision was released on
Wednesday Feb. 13 by provincial court judge Allan Betton, almost three weeks
following the trial in Kamloops where the incident occurred.
“(Jones) is to appear in
court on Feb. 29 in Kamloops to receive sentencing,” said Inspector Norm
McPhail, head of the Sea to Sky Regional Police Services.
“He remains on regular duty
until we get a disposition on the case.”
The trial took place from
Jan. 21-24 and investigated whether Jones’s actions during the dance were
justified.
Jones allegedly punched
another off-duty officer, Constable Brooke Argue, in the face during the
charity fundraiser, knocking Aruge unconscious.
Jones maintained that Argue
had a “tiger claw” throat grip on Constable Paul Sellars, which prompted his
intervention.
All three officers were
off-duty at the time of the incident.
Testimony at the trial
described the scene then degenerating into an alcohol-fuelled brawl, with all
participants being RCMP officers.
The RCMP will also undergo an
internal code of conduct investigation against Jones. Such an investigation can
lead to formal sanctions placed on the officer in question.
Said McPhail: “We are just
awaiting the disposition of the case by the presiding judge, and then we’ll
make decisions as to Devon’s duty status, transfer, that type of thing, after
that point in time.”
Jones is a five-year veteran
of the force and was the Whistler/Pemberton RCMP detachment’s community
policing officer from 2004 to 2007, as well as the detachments media liaison.
During his time in Whistler,
Jones has developed a reputation for community involvement, including cycling
with the Cops for Cancer tour and riding a stationary bike for 24 hours to
raise money for Camp Good Times.
“In terms of his character on
duty and dealing with Devon as a police officer, he is an excellent, very
professional person, very much a supporter of the youth in town,” said McPhail.
