Judge rules Mountie not guilty of assault during arrest in central Alberta

WATCH ABOVE: An officer charged after an altercation with a youth during a New Year’s Eve party was acquitted today. Eric Szeto reports.

WETASKIWIN, Alta. – A Mountie in central Alberta has been acquitted on a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

A judge in Wetaskiwin made the ruling following a trial earlier this year for Const. Ron Lavallee.

The 37-year-old was accused of using excessive force during an arrest in Maskwacis on Jan. 1, 2012.

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The officer is also appealing an earlier conviction for assault causing bodily harm for a confrontation on Dec. 14, 2011.

Lavallee was sentenced last year to two months in jail.

The RCMP says Lavallee is currently assigned to administrative duties.

The complainant told Global News he is “shocked” by the ruling. He said he’s been traumatized since the incident and is slowly recovering. His family expressed their mistrust of police since the encounter.

With files from Eric Szeto, Global News