Monday, January 04, 2010

Sgt Darcy Taylor Charged with Assault with Weapon

A veteran city police officer is facing an assault charge in an incident last summer.

Sergeant Darcy Taylor was today charged with a count of assault with a weapon for allegedly striking a man in the chest with a baton and knocking him down.

The incident last August 23 came during a police response to a 2:15 a.m. fight in central Vancouver that prompted the officer, who has 20 years experience and was first on the scene, to call for emergency cover.

The alleged victim was not injured.

Inspector Mario Giardini of the force's professional standards office told a news conference that regional crown counsel laid the charge today based on information gathered by a Vancouver police investigation into the matter.

Asked what made the confrontation egregious enough to warrant charges, Insp. Giardini urged reporters to read the criminal code.

“It really doesn't take much to commit an assault,” he said.

The inspector described the matter of an officer being charged with assault as rare.

He declined further comment on the case because the matter is before the courts.

The inspector said the sergeant continues to work in “non-operational” duties.

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