Obstruction charges stayed against veteran Brandon police officer

Obstruction-of-justice charges laid against a veteran Brandon police sergeant inconnection with a 2014 bar brawlin the western Manitoba city have been stayed.

Sgt. DallasLockhart, a 20-year member of the Brandon Police Service,was charged in August 2016 with one count of attempting to obstruct justice and one count of obstructing a police officer after a man alleged that he had been assaulted by a Brandon police officer at a local bar in November2014.

Danny Smyth, who was deputy chief of the Winnipeg Police Service at the time, said Lockhart was off duty when he allegedly"intervened into a matter involving two adult males that had been in the custody of other Brandon police officers."

Lockhart's defence layer, Sarah Innes, confirmed the charges were stayed in Brandon provincial court on Monday, andadded that her client has always maintained his innocence.

Innes said no reason was given in court as to why the charges had been stayed.

The case of a second officer involved in the investigation, Const. ShaneStephenson, remains before the courts. He is charged with one count of obstructing justice.

Conduct questioned

The conduct of the officers wasbrought into questionin connection withtwo separate assault investigations one from July 2014, the otherfrom November 2014, Winnipeg police said at the time.Stephenson had been assigned to both cases. One of two men taken into police custody in Novemberwas also involved in the July investigation, police said.

Police said at the time that Stephenson and two other members of the Brandon Police Servicewere looking into reports of an assault and a disturbance complaint that took place at a hotel and bar in Brandon.The two men who werein custody at the time were connected with those complaints.

Brandon police said at the time that the person who came forward with the assaultcomplaint against the officer"had a family relationship with another Brandon Police Service member."

Both officers wereput on paid administrative leave. A Brandon police spokesperson said Lockhart has now returned to active duty with the force.

Stephnson's defence layer, Hymie Weinstein, told CBC News that his client's case will be going to trial in December.