A Williams Lake RCMP officer faces criminal charges.
Counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon have been approved against Cst. Madeline Hjelden, the B.C. Prosecution Service said Thursday.
The counts stem from an alleged May 31, 2020 incident which, according to a report from the Independent Investigations Office, began when RCMP responded to a report that a man who was was intoxicated and in significant emotional distress had departed from a home in the community on a motorbike.
When an officer found the man and attempted to speak to him, he departed on the motorbike. Police followed and an "interaction occurred between the motorbike and the police vehicle a short time later" left the man seriously injured.
"The charge was approved by an experienced Crown Counsel with no prior or current connection with the officer," BCPS said.
A date for a first appearance has not yet been set.
