Edmonton police officer charged with off-duty sexual assault

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The provincial police watchdog has charged an Edmonton police officer with sexual assault.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has charged an EPS officer with the off-duty assault. They said in a news release Wednesday that they were first directed to investigate the allegations on Feb. 4 and charged the 38-year-old officer Wednesday.

ASIRT said the officer was off duty in the early afternoon of Jan. 20 when he encountered a female acquaintance. During that encounter the man is alleged to have sexually assaulted the woman. ASIRT said the evidence gathered in its investigation provided reasonable grounds that an offence had taken place.

The investigation was forwarded to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service to determine if the evidence met the standard for prosecution.

“Following a review of the investigation and having been advised that the Crown was of the opinion that the evidence met their standard for prosecution, ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson made the determination that the involved officer should be charged,” said the ASIRT release Wednesday.

Const. Samuel Sanson was arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault. He has been released from custody on an undertaking with conditions. He is scheduled to next appear in court on March 23.

EPS has not responded to requests for comment.

dshort@postmedia.com

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