Crime - Two teens charged in beating of Mountie

Turner Valley Cst. Tom Christie released from Calgary hospital

By John Barlow
Editor

Two youth accused of beating an off-duty Turner Valley RCMP officer could be sentenced as adults if convicted.
Two teenagers aged 17 and 15 have been arrested and charged with beating Cst. Tom Christie in a Calgary back alley on July 23.
The two youth made their first appearances in court last Thursday and Crown prosecutor Ken McCaffrey asked Judge Lynn Cook-Stanhope to upgrade the charges from assault causing bodily harm to aggravated assault.
McCaffrey added that if the youth are convicted he will be seeking adult sentences.
The Crown prosecutor stated that the charges stem from a serious and vicious attack and that the Crown wants to ensure the youth and held accountable for their actions if found guilty.
Christie, a veteran of the Turner Valley RCMP, was in the intensive care unit in the Foothills Hospital with severe face and head injuries after he was beaten by several youth in an alley in Midnapore.
Christie, who resides in Calgary, was cycling when the attack took place. He confronted some youth who were drinking in a back alley and asked them to clean up their mess and the confrontation turned violent.
Christie, 45, was found bleeding and unconscious beside his bike in the alley by residents in the area who called 9-1-1. The incident happened at around 8:45 pm on Friday night on Shawmeadows Road SW.
One of the residents even pursued the group on foot.
Christie, a father of three, spent several days in hospital was released late last week.
The 17-year-old was picked up by Calgary Police the day after the attack and the younger teen turned himself in. The two teens cannot be named due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
According to the Calgary Police no further charges are expected.
Sgt. Tyler Bray of the Turner Valley RCMP said Christie has returned home and remains under a doctor’s care and will remain off-duty for some time
Sgt. Rick Oncescu, media liaison for the RCMP in Calgary, said there are still some concern regarding the severity of Christie’s head injuries.
“Anytime you are dealing with a head injury it is a slow process,” said Oncescu during an interview last week.
The 17-year-old accused returns to court in Calgary on Aug. 10 and the younger teen, who will be pleading not guilty, will make his next appearance Aug. 4.
It was initially believed up to five youth, in their late teens or early 20s, were involved in the assault.