A Halton Regional Police officer has been charged following an investigation in a 2020 incident.
The HRPS says that officers responded to a report of a suspect loitering in the area of Third Line and Dundas Street West in Oakville. A confrontation ensued between the officers and the male suspect.
The officer was suspended with pay upon the HRPS finding out about the incident and the investigation was underway. Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner requested that the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) commence the criminal investigation into the incident. It’s noted by the HRPS that the three other officers who attended the scene were re-assigned to administrative positions pending the outcome of the investigation by WRPS.
As a result of that external and independent investigation, Constable Jason Mathers has been charged on this date with the following:
- Assault with a Weapon
- Mischief Under $5,000
He has been released and is scheduled to appear (virtually) in court on March 9th, 2021. He remains suspended with pay, which continues to be the only option under the PSA.
Chief Tanner provided the following statement:
“We recognize that the actions of our officers at this incident have the potential to undermine public trust in our Service, and in policing as a whole. We remain committed to fostering and maintaining a very positive relationship with the community we serve.
“It is of paramount importance that any investigation into the actions of a police officer is not only thorough, but also unbiased, transparent and fair. We are grateful for the assistance of the Waterloo Regional Police Service in this matter and for their investigation into this incident.”
Now that the criminal investigation has concluded, an internal disciplinary investigation into the actions of all four officers under Part V of the PSA will be completed.
