Kelowna, B.C. cop involved in disturbing wellness check pleads guilty

A Kelowna cop involved in a disturbing 2020 wellness check has pleaded guilty to assault.

Const. Lacy Browning made the admission in court Monday, which was supposed to be the first day of her trial for the incident involving UBC Okanagan student Mona Wang.

Before sentencing, which is expected to take place sometime in 2023, a Gladue report will be composed. It’s a type of pre-sentencing and bail hearing report that a Canadian court can request when considering sentencing an offender of Aboriginal descent.

Wang hopes the plea is a step in the right direction for those who choose to come forward.

“I’m really glad that she’s taking accountability for the harm that she’s caused me, but unfortunately abuses like these happen all the time,” said Wang. “I was just privileged enough to have my voice heard and find my justice, a lot of those individuals, especially those who are unhoused will never be able to find the justice that they deserve.”

Wang would also like to see improvements to the judicial process as it was difficult for her to start her own legal proceedings.

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“I think there needs to be a lot done in expediting this process and many people, unfortunately, become discouraged by this process and don’t continue to seek out their justice because of how long it takes and how re-traumatizing it can be,” said Wang.

2:09 Mona Wang ‘shocked’ that wellness-check investigation review sent back to RCMP

Browning made national headlines and gained widespread condemnation when surveillance video from January 2020 showed a handcuffed woman, later identified as Wang, being dragged, face down, on a carpeted hallway by a Kelowna RCMP officer before having her head stepped on.

Browning was later identified as that officer and charged in August 2021.

Before the criminal charge was laid, a civil lawsuit was filed against Browning, Canada’s attorney general and B.C.’s minister of public safety and solicitor general. It was settled in June.

Browning was placed on administrative duties shortly after the video went viral.

-With files from Kathy Michaels