(CBC News) – A veteran Alberta RCMP officer could face disciplinary action or criminal charges arising from a civil trial after being dressed down by an Edmonton judge.
Sgt. Richard Graydon’s actions are the subject of a complaint filed by Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Mary Moreau.
The Red Deer officer was testifying in a civil court case Sept. 21 when during the break he left the courtroom with an exhibit — his officer’s notebook.
Graydon was being cross-examined at a trial stemming from a $600,000 lawsuit alleging he had shot Alberta farmer Peter Larsen in an argument during a routine traffic stop in 1999.
Despite the court clerk’s efforts to stop him, he refused to hand over the notebook, explaining he was concerned about maintaining the confidentiality of his informants.
Moreau summoned the officer back to court Wednesday.
She called Graydon’s actions “unacceptable” and a “deliberate decision” not to surrender his notebook to the clerk.
“You proceeded to take matters into your own hands and remove the exhibit from the control of the clerk. In doing so, you compromised the ability of the court to rely without question or inquiry on the integrity of the exhibit,” Moreau said in court.
“When a piece of evidence is marked as an exhibit, the chain of continuity of evidence that you are well familiar with remains unbroken and its integrity is maintained. This protection of exhibits is a cornerstone of the justice system and enhances the ability of the court to fulfil its function of upholding the rule of law.”
Moreau directed her comments to the RCMP K Division headquarters.
Graydon, who has 23 years with the RCMP, did not say anything to the judge. He has hired a new lawyer to represent him.
An RCMP spokesman told CBC News the matter will be investigated and appropriate steps will be taken.
That could mean a criminal charge of obstruction of justice or internal discipline.
Until then, Graydon remains on active duty in Red Deer.
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