Edmonton police officer charged with sexual assault, breach of trust

An Edmonton police officer has been charged with sexual assaultafter a two-yearinvestigation into his actions revealed a pattern of behaviour toward women that breached standards for police responsibility and conduct.

Const. Hunter Robinz was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of sexual assault, one count of unauthorized use of a computer database andtwo separate counts of breach of trust.

The charges were laid by theAlberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), whichbegan investigating a sexual assault accusationagainstRobinzon Aug. 9, 2019.

ASIRTallegesthaton June 29, 2019,Robinzwas on duty when he went in uniform tothe homeof a 24-year-old woman he had met on an earlierservice call.

Asexual assault then took place at the home, ASIRT saidin a news releaseThursday.

"During the course of that investigation, evidence was obtained that reflected possible involvement in other matters that might warrant their own investigation," the release said.

'Pattern of behaviour'

The evidence suggestedthatbetweenMarch 2017 andJune 2019, Robinz"engaged in a pattern of behaviour involving his on-duty contact with women that breached the standard of responsibility and conduct required as a police officer ...thereby committing a breach of trust," ASIRT said in the news release.

"Considerable trust is placed in police officers who often encounter individuals in times of crisis or vulnerability."

The investigation uncovered evidence thatbetween September 2018 and July 2019, Robinz accessed secure databases for names and addresses of people for personal reasons unrelated to his duties, thereby committing the offences of unauthorized use of a computer and breach of trust.

Robinz was released onconditions after he was arrested and charged. He is scheduled toappear in provincial court in Edmonton on Jan. 25.

Robinz, a six-year member of the Edmonton Police Service, is also facingcharges in a separate matter anoff-duty incident that took place in Stony Plain, west of the city, on March 12 of this year.

He was charged by Parkland RCMP on March 13with assault andunsafe storage of a firearm.

After he was charged, he was suspended without pay.

ASIRTinvestigatesincidents involving law enforcementthat resultin serious injury or death, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.