A police constable from the Durham Regional Police Service is facing assault charges following an incident during an on-duty arrest this past summer. Constable Brandon Welsh-Battiste, who serves in the west division with three years of experience, has been charged with one count of assault.
According to Durham police, the alleged assault took place while Const. Welsh-Battiste was on duty in the summer, and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was not involved in the case. The details surrounding the incident are not being disclosed as the matter is now in the hands of the courts.
The SIU spokesperson, Kristy Denette, confirmed that the police oversight agency was not part of the investigation. Const. Welsh-Battiste has been released and reassigned to administrative duties by the police department.
Following the criminal court proceedings, an internal investigation under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act will commence. Those with information relevant to the case are urged to reach out to the professional standards unit of the police force.
It is important to note that the allegations against Const. Welsh-Battiste have not been proven in court.