B.C. police officer charged with sexual assault dies by suicide, reports say [Video]

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Several British Columbia media reports say one of two Central Saanich Police officers charged with sexual assaulting a woman they met on duty has died by suicide.

The Times Colonist cites four sources saying 43-year-old Sgt. Matthew Ball has died, while other outlets cite police sources saying Ball died by suicide.

Mounties say in a news release they are investigating the discovery of a body in a forested area of Shawnigan Lake, which is about 40 kilometres northwest of Victoria.

RCMP say they are looking into whether any criminality was involved and the coroner’s service is also investigating.

An RCMP spokesman would not identify the person who died, while Central Saanich Police, the BC Coroners Service and BC Emergency Health Services declined to comment.

Vancouver police said on …