2 Central Saanich police officers charged
with sexual assault
An investigation by the Vancouver Police Department has led to two officers from the Central Saanich Police Service being charged with sexual assault.
The VPD initiated a criminal investigation on Oct. 28 at the request of Central Saanich Police Service, after a person came forward with information about two officers who allegedly had unlawful sexual contact with an adult woman they met while on duty.
Based on evidence obtained during the investigation, the BC Prosecution Service charged: Sgt. Matthew Ball, 43, with one count of sexual assault and one count of breach of trust, for the alleged offences that occurred between Feb. 1, 2019 and Oct. 31, 2023; and Const. Ryan Johnston, 40, with one count of sexual assault for alleged offences that occurred between Feb. 6, 2020 and March 8, 2020, both in the District of Central Saanich.
On the news, last night, they announced that Sgt Ball had committed suicide.
"Details of these arrests may shock many of you. They will reverberate throughout the community in which these officers serve and beyond," said VPD Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson. "Allegations like these are deeply corrosive to the public trust police officers depend on to keep their communities safe."
The current evidence suggested that each officer formed separate, intimate, and inappropriate relationships with the victim at different times after meeting her during the course of their duties.
Wilson concluded the conference by speaking directly to the victim.
"You trusted that police would believe you, support you, and investigate these extremely serious allegations with the tenacity that has led to today's arrests. Without your courage, we would not be here today," she said.
Central Saanich Police Services say the members have now been suspended and the process to seek suspension without pay is underway.
"The arrests today enabled CSPS to move forward with the suspension process as doing so prior to the arrest would have alerted the individuals to the investigation," according to a release from the police service.
"Central Saanich is a small community where many people know police officers by first name. Obviously, these allegations impact that public trust. It is critical that victims feel safe coming forward."
Central Saanich Police Services has ensured through the VPD that the victim has had access to support including Victim Services.
“Regardless of who is accused, when these allegations were brought forward, they were taken very seriously, acted upon immediately and resulted in criminal charges,” said Central Saanich Chief Const. Ian Lawson, adding he would not comment further to ensure the integrity of the case is not impacted.
Wilson told reporters that they can't share many details about the victim, other than she is in her mid-20s, and she was in a "vulnerable position" when she met the officers.
Ball joined the CSPS in 2016 following a 12-year stint with the Calgary Police Service, and Johnston, who was commended for his "exceptional service at a call for service" in 2020, joined CSPS in 2017.
The investigation was prompted after CSPS asked VPD to investigate the officers in October, and over seven weeks, a specialized team of sex crime investigators was formed to conduct the investigation under the command of Wilson.
Both suspects were taken into custody Tuesday morning by members of the Vancouver Police Department, with assistance from the Victoria Police Department. They are both in custody and awaiting bail hearings.
The investigation is ongoing, and police ask anyone with information that may assist the investigation to call 604-717-0604.
Teacher charged with raping student, 13, had ditched husband for boy she called her ‘crystal meth’: prosecutor
The Los Angeles-area special ed teacher accused of raping a 13-year-old student in her car had ditched her husband for the teen – whom she referred to as her “crystal meth,” according to prosecutors.
Colleen Jo Matarico, a 43-year-old grandmother, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to five felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14, two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child age 14 or 15, and one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, CBS News reported.
Prosecutors alleged that she was sexually abusing the male student for over a year, and even left her husband because she believed she was in love with him, the Los Angeles Times added.
In online messages, she called the teen “her ‘crystal meth’” — and “the only person she would go to jail for,” Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson told Tuesday’s hearing.
The mom of two continued to pursue the boy after “multiple people in her family” begged her to stop — and the boy said he was “concerned and scared” of her jealousy, the prosecutor said.
Matarico – who worked at John Burroughs Middle School – started abusing the boy when he turned 13, while she was still his teacher, Anson told the court.
Most of the alleged sex abuse took place between August and November, per the criminal complaint.
She is also accused of giving the boy marijuana.
More recently, when she became aware of the investigation, Matarico allegedly drove to the high school where the boy is now a pupil and waited for him in her car — where she allegedly raped him, according to Anson.
The teacher then contacted one of the boy’s friends via Instagram in order to stay in contact with him, the Los Angeles Times said.
Runaway foster child reveals retired principal’s history of sex abuse, NC cops say
A retired principal serving as a foster parent is facing a series of child abuse charges after multiple victims came forward to report sex assaults in his home, according to investigators in North Carolina.
“A juvenile who was placed in the suspect’s foster care ran away ... and contacted the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. Information received led to allegations of unlawful sexual activity, and the discovery of additional victims and allegations dating back to 2022,” the sheriff’s office said.
Locklear, 53, is a retired Robeson County principal and currently teaches with Darlington County Public Schools in South Carolina, officials said.
He served as principal of St. Pauls Middle School in Robeson County until 2021, the Robesonian reports.
Deputies arrested Locklear in neighboring Columbus County and his bond was set at $2 million, the sheriff’s office said. He is charged with:
- One count of sexual activity by a substitute parent
- One count of attempted sexual activity by a substitute parent
- Three counts of indecent liberties with a minor
- One count of child abuse sexual act
- Nine counts of crimes against nature
- Four counts of misdemeanor sexual battery
Kids didn’t do chores to stepdad’s standards so he left them with bruises, NC cops say
Parents jailed after boy locked in outdoor dog kennel in freezing cold, NC cops say
Toddler left in van gets kidnapped, so dad is charged with child abuse, NC police say
Former Sulphur officer facing charges for allowing sex offender near child and school
A now-former Sulphur police officer was arrested and charged with one count of child neglect in Murray County.
According to the affidavit, former Sulphur police officer Nicole Shultz was in a relationship with a registered sex offender who was reportedly staying with her.
Shultz had a child in the home and lived within 2,000 feet of a Pre-K and public park.
At the time of the investigation, detectives reached out to the Sulphur Police Department's Chief of Police, where Shultz was still employed.
Shultz stated she did not know he was a registered sex offender because she did not want to abuse her power as a law enforcement officer to look up his history.
She also said he was not staying at her place but did not deny he was at the home on multiple occasions.
Shultz was arrested for child neglect for exposing her child to criminal activity.
She was also arrested for accessory to violating the sex offender's registration act by allowing the offender to loiter in her home within 500 feet of a public park near a school.
Davis News reports that Shultz has made bond and a preliminary conference hearing is set for Jan. 9.
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