Elise Stolte, Edmonton Journal
August 27, 2012

A Hobbema-based RCMP officer has been charged with assault and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 13.

The charge stems from an incident Dec. 14, 2011, when Const. Ronald Craig Lavallee and several other officers arrested the complainant, Malcolm Cabry, said Hobbema Staff Sgt Robin Alexander.

The officers’ notes indicate Cabry was intoxicated.

Afterward, Cabry alleged Lavallee used excessive force while making the arrest.

Alexander wouldn’t give further details on the case because it is before the courts. He said Cabry was not taken to a hospital.

Lavallee has been with the RCMP for six years and has been stationed in Hobbema since February 2011. “He’s off duty sick right now on a medical leave,” said Alexander.

Such accusations are fairly common, said Alexander, who estimated he has seen 10 or 20 similar allegations against other officers during the two years he has been stationed in Hobbema. “We do tend to arrest a lot of people.”

The accusations are investigated by other RCMP officers, then sent to a special Crown prosecutor. “They decide whether there’s a reasonable likelihood of conviction,” Alexander said.

Alexander said the accusations against Lavallee are the first he has seen progress to formal charges.

Source: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Hobbema+RCMP+officer+charged+with+assault/7152396/story.html