RCMP Watch

Chad Skelton (Vancouver Sun) - A Whistler RCMP officer was docked five days’ pay after he punched another Mountie in the face in defence of a friend who was making advances on another officer’s wife during a fundraiser in Kamloops, B.C.

At his RCMP disciplinary board hearing this past April, Const. Devon Jones admitted to striking Const. Brooke Argue, but maintained that he acted nobly, “to come to the defence of his friend” Const. Paul Sellars.

The board disagreed, finding that it would be hard “to come to any conclusion other than that the only person coming to anyone’s defence in this unfortunate situation was Const. Argue. He came to the defence of his wife, in attempting to prevent Const. Sellars from continuing to make unwanted advances.”

Jones was charged with assault nearly a year after the April 8, 2006 incident which occurred during a fundraiser called the Mountie Stomp held in memory of an officer who died from leukemia. He pleaded not guilty in Kamloops Provincial Court - arguing that he was merely coming to Sellars’ defence - but this past February a judge found him guilty. Jones received a conditional discharge, nine months probation and 50 hours of community service.

According to the decision, Jones and Sellars attended the fundraiser having consumed some drinks before they arrived.

Shortly after midnight, Jones and Sellars, by this point intoxicated, approached Argue’s wife. Sellars then began making advances toward her.

“Mrs. Argue quickly got tired of Const. Sellars’ interaction and told him she was married and her husband was standing nearby,” the decision states. “Nevertheless, Const. Sellars continued talking to Mrs. Argue and told her he did not believe she was married.”

A friend of Argue’s asked Sellars and Jones to leave, which they did, but they returned a few minutes later and Sellars once again began talking to Argue’s wife.

“Const. Argue became annoyed with Const. Sellars’ behaviour and told him that he did not wish to deal with him any longer,” it states. “Const. Sellars began yelling and swearing at him and moved close to his face.”

According to the decision, Argue then either pushed Sellars away or grabbed his neck.

Regardless, Jones then “immediately responded with one punch to the right side of Const. Argue’s face with a closed fist.”

Argue fell to the concrete floor, causing him to lose consciousness for five to 10 seconds. He also suffered swelling to his jaw and a large scrape on his elbow.

Jones left shortly after.

Argue was taken to hospital and, as a result of his injuries, missed two shifts. In the weeks following the assault, he suffered headaches and an irregular bite.

The board found that Jones “blindsided Const. Argue with a single knockout blow to the side of the head and then immediately left the scene. This is a serious assault that carries no nobility in it whatsoever.”