One of British Columbia's regional chief medical health officers involved in the province's COVID-19 pandemic response has been arrested for sex crimes, following a police investigation in Alberta.  

From Alberta, Grande Prairie RCMP announced today that officers arrested a 52-year-old man in Kelowna on June 8 in Kelowna, B.C.

The arrest followed an investigation conducted by the Grande Prairie RCMP Special Investigative Unit, with assistance from the Grande Prairie Caribou Centre, into a report received on May 28, 2021, about allegations of sexual offences against a young child that took place between 2018 and 2020.

The suspect has been charged with one count of sexual assault and sexual interference, and he is in custody until his judicial hearing.

RCMP are not releasing any further information as the case is before the courts. None of the allegations have yet been proven in court.

News reports have identified the suspect as Dr. Albert de Villiers, who has been the chief medical health officer for Interior Health since August 2020. Previously, he was the zone lead medical officer of health at Alberta Health Services from January 2004 to July 2020 in Grande Prairie.

Dr. Sue Pollock is listed as the interim chief medical health officer at Interior Health.