About a year-and-a-half after an alleged assault by police in Metro Vancouver, two RCMP are now facing charges for that incident.

The B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today (March 12) that two RCMP officers have been charged in an incident that took place in Richmond in 2019.

According to B.C. RCMP, Surrey RCMP officers located a male suspect, who was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle in Surrey, on October 10, 2019.

The officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver in Richmond, with assistance from a Richmond RCMP officer.

While taking the suspect into custody, officers allegedly assaulted him.

After learning about the assault allegations, Surrey and Richmond RCMP senior officers launched Code of Conduct investigations and criminal investigations against the officers involved in the incident.

The results of the investigation were submitted to the BCPS in 2020 for assessment of charges.

The BCPS announced that Surrey RCMP Const. John Tsonos and Richmond RCMP Const. Matthew McGuire are each charged with one count of assault.

Const. Tsonos remains suspended with pay and Const. McGuire is on administrative duties.

Meanwhile, internal Code of Conduct investigations remain ongoing, and the duty status of both officers is under continual assessment.

Both officers are scheduled to appear in court in April 19.