CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 3:04PM EST
Last Updated Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 10:06PM EST
An RCMP officer and his wife are facing multiple charges in connection with what’s being described as one of the worst cases of child abuse police in Ottawa have ever seen.
Police sources told CTV News that the case involves a child who was allegedly shackled and handcuffed in the basement of a home for months.
The 41-year-old officer, who has not been identified, was arrested Tuesday.
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He has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of assault with a weapon, one count of aggravated sexual assault, one count of failing to provide the necessities of life and one count of forcible confinement.
His 34-year-old wife was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, one count of failing to provide the necessities of life and one count of forcible confinement.
A man who lives in the neighbourhood where the alleged abuse took place said he saw a young boy from his window on Tuesday, trying to open the outside water tap of his house, and assumed he was a trespasser.
“I gave him water,” said Wilson Wong, who described the boy as resembling a “little old man” with sunken cheeks.
After getting water, the boy walked away. Wong said he’s had trouble sleeping ever since.
“Now I realize I should have done something,” he said.
By Wednesday morning, the boy was being treated at the Children’s Hospital in Ottawa, where doctors are said to be shocked by the child’s condition.
The accused officer has not been on active duty since 2011, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson told CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson Thursday. He wouldn’t comment further as the case is before the courts.
“It’s just a terrible set of circumstances,” he said.
Ottawa police said they are dealing with very serious allegations.
“Any case of violence against a child is important and affects us all,” Staff Sgt. Francois D’Aoust said.
With a report from CTV’s Daniele Hamamdjian
