London’s police chief says he has concluded the force’s handling of a sexual assault case involving two hockey players more than four years ago was conducted “appropriately.”
Chief Steve Williams launched an internal review of a sexual assault investigation last week in response to a story first reported by TSN in which a woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in 2018 by two men, one a Western University hockey player and the other a minor-pro player.
In a statement Thursday, Williams said he is “satisfied that they were conducted appropriately” by investigators.
“The investigations were conducted in accordance with (London police service) procedure, ensuring the victim was supported through referral to victim services, and that her wishes with respect to charges were followed,” he said.
Williams previously confirmed police probed two allegations of sexual assault in September 2019 made by the same complainant. He said the allegations were related to incidents stemming from March 2018. One investigation resulted in a sexual assault charge being laid.
Charges were not laid in the second investigation, which “has been finalized and closed,” Williams said in a statement Thursday.
Sports network TSN had reported the unnamed woman alleged London police discouraged her from pursuing charges in both cases and was hoping the department would reopen the investigation in the wake of the unrelated Hockey Canada scandal. The national governing body for the sport has come under intense scrutiny following a settlement with an unnamed woman stemming from allegations of sexual abuse by world junior team members after an event in London in 2018.
Neither of the hockey players in the latest allegations is believed to be connected to the alleged June 2018 group assault in London, TSN reported.
As part of London police review, investigators spoke with the complainant and provided information about her options, including having the investigation reopened, Williams said. The police force continues to work with London’s Violence Against Women Community Advocacy Group “to ensure best practices in victim support and investigation of sexual assault offences,” he added in the statement.
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