IN response to a domestic assault reported on January 28 at approximately 1 p.m., Delta Police located and engaged with an intoxicated suspect who had left the scene. Upon being advised that he was under arrest, the suspect initiated a physical fight with the officers, said police.

Video footage retrieved from an officer’s body worn camera (BWC) impeccably documented the altercation, including the assault on two officers perpetrated by the suspect. Although the camera footage will not be publicly disclosed, it forms a pivotal piece of evidence for this case, said police, while pointing out the invaluable contribution of the BWC program.

During the assault, two officers were exposed to the suspect’s blood, resulting in one officer requiring ongoing treatment for blood contamination.

Key advantages of the BWC program include:
* Enhanced Accountability: BWCs bolster accountability by furnishing an impartial record of interactions between law enforcement officers and the public.
* Supplementary Evidence Collection: BWCs play a crucial role in investigations, offering accurate and reliable information for criminal cases and professional standards inquiries.
* Augmented Transparency: The utilization of body cameras fosters transparency, nurturing trust between the police and the community. This allows for the scrutiny of officers’ actions in contentious situations through civilian oversight bodies, such as the Independent Investigations Office of BC and the Office of Police Complaints Commissioner.
* Training and Evaluation: Video footage is instrumental in officer training, facilitating performance improvement and ensuring adherence to departmental policies and procedures.

The suspect has been charged with one count of assault related to the initial complaint, one count of assaulting a police officer, and one count of resisting or willfully obstructing a police officer. He has been released from custody by the court.