Mountie charged with sex assault testifies in Iqaluit trial

An RCMP officer accused of sexually assaulting a female prisonertook the stand inhis own defence inIqaluit Wednesday.

Const. Justin Dickens is charged with one count of sexual assault for an incident that allegedly took place at the Baker Lake RCMP detachment. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Speaking from his own memory and using police notebooks, Dickens told his version of events today.

Hesayshe was on patrol when he received a call about an intoxicated woman in a public place who was causing problems. He says he escorted the woman to the RCMP truck with no incident, where he says he did a brief search of her jacket.

But Dickens testified the woman's behaviour started to escalate in the truck when she realized she was going to the detachment.

When they arrived there, Dickens says he took her intoa holding cell and informed her that a proper search needed to be done.That's when he saysthe womanswore at him andtold him to leave her alone.

Dickens alleges he proceeded to check her waistline and back pockets with the back of his hand and with the side of his hand over her clothes.

When he was checking her back pockets, Dickens said the prisoner said "don't[redacted] touch my private parts."Dickens says that's whenhe realizedhe should call in a female guard to complete the search.

He denies putting his hand in the prisoner's pants or touching her inappropriately.

The Crown will cross-examine Dickens this afternoon as the trial continues.