Retired Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP corporal charged with assault, jail

Newfoundland and Labrador’s police watchdog has charged a retired RCMP officer with forcible detention and battery.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Severe Incident Response Team said Cpl. Steven Blackmore allegedly beat and detained another man in the central Newfoundland town of Clarenville in June 2019.

A news release from SIRT-NL said Blackmore was a police officer at the time but was on leave and off duty at the time of the alleged attack.

The investigation into Blackmore’s allegations was being conducted by the Royal Newfoundland Police under civilian supervision, the watchdog said.

Although SIRT-NL is responsible for investigating two police forces in Newfoundland and Labrador, the agency said it had a conflict of interest in Blackmore’s case.