ASIRT investigating Lethbridge Police Service officer

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will be investigating allegations that a Lethbridge Police Service member potentially mishandled evidence.

On Thursday, the LPS suspended the officer with pay and ordered an internal investigation into professional misconduct under the Police Act and Police Service Regulation.

LPS said in a press release that investigation will be held in abeyance until ASIRT has finished is work.

On Friday, ASIRT said in a press release that on May 11 it was directed to investigate the circumstances of the matter.

“On that day, the Director of Law Enforcement (DLE) was notified that information obtained during the course of an ongoing investigation had raised concerns regarding the handling of several items which may have been potential exhibits in that investigation by a member of the LPS.

“ASIRT’s investigation will examine the manner in which the potential exhibits were managed during the incident, and seek to determine whether the actions in question were lawful. The original investigation will proceed independently from ASIRT. As both ASIRT’s investigation and the original investigation are underway, no further information will be released at this time,” said ASIRT in its release.

ASIRT said in a response to a call from The Herald it wouldn’t be releasing any more details at this time.