Okanagan mountie accuses RCMP of harassment

A former Okanagan RCMP officer who was the first to find murder victim Taylor Van Diest is suing the provincial and federal governments, alleging the way the RCMP handled allegations against him amounted to harassment.

Those allegations center around what happened the night Van Diest was found and the member’s testimony at the subsequent murder trial. Van Diest was 18-years-old when she was attacked on October 31, 2011 in the Armstrong area.

Read More: Appeal trial date for man convicted of killing Taylor Van Diest

In his notice of civil claim, Constable Milan Ilic says he learned he was under investigation in April 2014. He was accused of not telling the truth while testifying.

However, Ilic’s court documents paint a picture of this internal investigation, which could have also resulted in criminal charges, petering out more than a year later.

“The fact that the process is unresolved has left him without any avenue to prove his innocence leaving a further permanent stain on any further potential career in the RCMP,” reads the statement of claim.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The fact that the process is unresolved has left him without any avenue to prove his innocence leaving a further permanent stain on any further potential career in the RCMP," reads the statement of claim.

The allegations go back to the night in 2011 when Taylor Van Diest was found.

Read More: Matthew Foerster found guilty of 1st-degree murder in killing of Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest

“He was the first officer at the scene and he took his jacket off and placed it over the victim, in an effort to keep her warm,” says the court document.

According to the claim, it was almost two and half years later, when the case went to trial, that allegations surfaced that Ilic had also cast aside a liquor bottle that night.

“In his testimony the plaintiff denied having a bottle of liquor or discarding a bottle of liquor at the scene on the night of the murder. He did testify that he had discarded a box of pens the he had in his jacket.”

Ilic says, in his claim, he told the other officers none of this was true. According to the claim, internal investigation was launched against him the following month.

In an emailed statement, the RCMP told Global Okanagan their response will come in court documents.

“We understand that a notice of civil claim has been filed. We will review the claim and the RCMP’s official response will be filed in our Statement of Defense and it is likely any other comments will be reserved for the courtroom, wrote Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen.

None of the allegations in the notice of civil claim have been proven in court.

Notice of Civil Claim