(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Troy Gillard

Accused of striking man in custody

Red Deer RCMP officer charged with assault

Feb 3, 2021 | 12:16 PM

A Red Deer RCMP officer accused of striking a man in custody during an altercation last year has been charged with assault.

Alberta RCMP says the altercation happened March 2, 2020 in the Red Deer Detachment cells when the officer struck an adult male after he was arrested for public intoxication and resisting arrest. The man was taken to a local hospital as a precaution and later remanded into custody for a parole violation.

After a Red Deer RCMP investigation, Cpl. Kent McDiarmid, 39, has been charged with one count of assault and released on a Promise to Appear in Red Deer provincial court March 24, 2021.

RCMP says McDiarmid, a 15-year member of the force, has been suspended with pay since July.

“The RCMP believe in processes that seek the facts and it’s important that processes taken to assess the actions of all those involved, including the police, are fair, transparent, and defendable,” reads a media release.

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“In March 2020, an Incident Review was initiated to ensure the member abided by all established policies and procedures. Once that review was completed, it was determined that an internal Code of Conduct and a criminal investigation would occur to look at the totality of the incident, including the actions of the RCMP, the use of force during the incident, and the duty status of the member.”