A member of the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment has been charged with a sexual offence involving a minor, prosecutors revealed Thursday.
Single counts of touching a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose and breach of trust have been approved against Const. Gregory Scott Bakker, the B.C. Prosecution Service said.
Bakker was investigated for alleged conduct that took place between July and November 2016 in cities across the Lower Mainland, including Abbotsford, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Surrey.
He was charged Thursday in Surrey provincial court and released on bail with 17 conditions.
Bakker, who has also worked in Surrey and Alberta, is scheduled to appear in court next on Oct. 5.
CTV News stopped at his Maple Ridge home but was told to leave the property.
It is not yet known what duties if any Bakker has at the RCMP right now. Mounties and Bakker's lawyer have not responded to requests for comment.
Neighbours say Bakker is a friendly man with three kids and this will be very tough on them.
"It's horrible to hear anything like that. We really don't know anything at this point, and for the sake of the family, I hope due process will see it out," Jeanne Greene said.
An online fundraiser posted by the family says his youngest daughter has a very serious neurological disease that requires tens of thousands of dollars of equipment to treat.
