Two police officers from B.C.'s Lower Mainland were recently arrested while vacationing in Cuba, after an allegation of some kind of assault involving a young Canadian woman, sources say.
Police sources tell CTV News the pair – Const. Jordan Long of Port Moody Police Department and the Vancouver Police Department’s Mark Simms – were vacationing in Varadero, a Cuban resort town, when something went wrong.
Police in Vancouver and Port Moody have each confirmed an officer from their department was taken into custody, but neither provided further information on what happened.
" Port Moody Police take all allegations of misconduct concerning our officer very seriously," Sgt. Travis Carroll said in a news release. "We have referred this matter to the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioners so they can monitor the situation."
Const. Long was hired by the Port Moody police in 2013, and Simms was recently transferred to Vancouver from the Delta Police Department.
The Port Moody officer may have only been detained as a witness, according to Deputy Police Complaints Commissioner Rollie Woods.
“My understanding is the person or the officer that may be in some jeopardy for his actions there was the Vancouver member,” he said.
Both officers have since been released from custody and no charges have been laid.
Woods said his office has been provided few details and is still working to confirm what happened. Once it does, it will determine whether to launch an investigation.
B.C. police officers are expected to abide by the province's professional conduct standards no matter where they are in the world, Woods added.
“They're always held to account and could be subject to a Police Act investigation, if they have committed or are alleged to commit misconduct,” he said.
Beyond the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he's been told Global Affairs Canada and the VPD are gathering information about what happened.
"I'm not aware of the details and at this point I think it's best to let foreign affairs and the VPD deal with the issue," Farnworth said.
With files from The Canadian Press