Vancouver police officers charged with assault for off-duty incident
Two officers from the Vancouver Police Department – including one who was involved in the 2015 arrest of Myles Gray – have been charged in connection with an off-duty incident late last year.
Court records show Joshua Wong and Brian Hunt are each facing one count of assault.
Authorities have confirmed few details about the alleged incident, which took place in Vancouver on Dec. 16, 2023.
Const. Tania Visintin told CTV News the department "immediately" notified B.C.'s Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner upon learning of the incident, and that the neighbouring New Westminster Police Department conducted a criminal investigation into the undisclosed allegations against the two officers.
The charges against Wong and Hunt were approved by the B.C. Prosecution Service on Tuesday.
"Neither officer is currently serving an operational role," Visintin said in an email.
2015 Myles Gray arrest
Wong was among several officers who responded to a fateful 911 call on Aug. 13, 2015, which ended with Gray dying in handcuffs.
The 33-year-old civilian, who owned a floral business on the Sunshine Coast, had allegedly confronted a homeowner on Southeast Marine Drive for watering her lawn during a drought.
During his confrontation with police, Gray suffered a variety of injuries including bone fractures and a hemorrhaged testicle.
Prosecutors did not approve charges against any of the officers involved, noting the only witnesses were from the Vancouver Police Department, and that they provided "incomplete and, in several respects, inconsistent accounts" of what happened.
It's unclear what role Wong played in the arrest. He appeared at a coroner's inquest into Gray's death last year, testifying that the Vancouver Police Union had instructed him not to take notes about what happened.
Wong was also one of the officers involved in a May 2017 arrest at the Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station that left a suspect with several broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
Wong was never charged in connection with the arrest. Two other officers who were charged with assault were ultimately acquitted, with the judge finding their use of force was consistent with their training.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7034620.1726094643!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
What passengers need to know about their rights ahead of a potential Air Canada pilots strike
While Air Canada has shared advice for travellers ahead of a possible pilots strike, an airline passenger rights advocate has more tips for Canadians who may be affected.
Consul general to New York to answer questions over $9M luxury condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark will testify on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
Taylor Swift wins big at MTV Video Music Awards, ties Beyonce's record and thanks Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift's dominance continued at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she took home seven awards — including the night's biggest, the trophy for video of the year.
'Buy nothing': PSAC wants federal workers to boycott downtown Ottawa businesses
A union representing federal employees is asking its members to bring their own lunch to work, in an apparent retaliation against downtown Ottawa businesses as new return-to-office protocols begin.
'Spot, squish, report': Officials urging vigilance as destructive species heads north
They have a propensity to proliferate and a fondness for grapes, and while the distinctive red and white-spotted lanternfly may look beautiful, officials are urging vigilance as the invasive species tracks north.
Actions speak louder: What experts are saying about the body language in the U.S. presidential debate
The highly anticipated debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was a heated matchup. Here's what experts who analyzed the exchange had to say.
Austria carries out raids against 72 alleged Islamic extremists ahead of 9/11 anniversary
Austrian security forces carried out raids against 72 alleged Islamic extremists this week ahead of the 23th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States, citing the potential for copycat violence on the date of the plane hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Jon Bon Jovi helps talk woman down from ledge on Nashville bridge
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi and a video production assistant persuaded a woman standing on the ledge of a pedestrian bridge in Nashville to come back over the railing to safety.
Inside a Manitoba ghost town, a group of ladies works to keep it alive
Abandoned homes line the streets of Lauder, a town that's now a ghost of what it once was. Yet inside, a small community is thriving.