The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced last Thursday that a charge of careless use of a firearm has been approved against a member of the Delta Police Department.
The charge stems from an incident in Surrey on Nov. 7, 2013.
The case was investigated by the Independent Investigation Office, which subsequently submitted a report to Crown counsel.
An information charging Const. Vicken Movsessian with one count of careless use of a firearm was sworn last Thursday in B.C. provincial court in Surrey. First appearance in the case has been set for April 27.
The charge arises from an on-duty incident between police and the occupants of a vehicle in the area of 108th Avenue and 148th Street in Surrey. It is alleged that in the course of the incident a firearm was discharged, resulting in injury to a male occupant of the vehicle.
The Delta police officer had been seconded to the
Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit-BC as a member of the Uniformed Gang Task Force. He was involved in a high-risk vehicle check when he discharged his firearm.
The victim was transported to hospital where he was treated and later released.
As is standard practice, the officer, a member of the Delta Police Department since 2006 and seconded to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit since March 2012, was immediately temporarily assigned to non-operational duties within the CFSEU.
The officer remains on nonoperational leave.
"As this matter is now before the courts, I am not in a position to make any comment relative to the charges against our officer," said acting Chief Lyle Beaudoin. "The investigations into the incident were conducted by other agencies so as to ensure the impartiality of the investigations. As such, I have limited knowledge as to the circumstances involved. I respect the role Crown counsel and the Independent Investigations Office must play.
"This is a difficult situation and we support our officer as he navigates this process," added Beaudoin.
