Gatineau, Que., police officer charged with off

Gatineau, Que., police officer charged with off-duty assault

Officer had been suspended with pay because of previous charges

A Gatineau, Que., police officer is facing a criminal charge for an alleged assault.

Stéphane Lizotte was arrested Sunday by the neighbouring MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais police force, Gatineau police said Wednesday.

Lizotte faces a charge of "assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm." He was off duty at the time, according to Gatineau police.

They said Lizotte had previously been suspended with pay because of separate charges.

Gatineau police said in 2023 that one of its officers named Stéphane Lizotte had been charged with obstructing or resisting peace officers, and with uttering threats to cause bodily harm or death.

At that time, Gatineau police said they'd investigated a report of an intoxicated person, discovered that person was an officer and took Lizotte home without laying charges. They said "the situation deteriorated" when officers then tried to check his home for firearms.

Lizotte was released from custody with conditions on Monday following a court appearance, Gatineau police said this week.