Two officers from the Central Saanich Police Service (CSPS) have been arrested and charged with sexual assault following an investigation by Vancouver police. The charges stem from allegations that the officers had inappropriate relationships with a vulnerable woman they encountered while on duty.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) launched its investigation on October 28, after receiving information about unlawful sexual contact involving two officers with the CSPS. According to VPD Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson, the two officers—Matthew Ball, 43, and Ryan Johnston, 40—are accused of forming separate inappropriate relationships with the woman, who was in her mid-20s at the time of the alleged offenses.
Ball, a sergeant at the CSPS, has been charged with sexual assault and breach of trust. The charges relate to incidents that reportedly occurred between February 1, 2019, and October 31, 2023. Johnston, a constable in the CSPS general investigation section, faces similar charges for offenses alleged to have taken place between February 6 and March 8, 2020.
Wilson emphasized the damaging impact such allegations can have on public trust in the police. “Allegations like these are deeply corrosive to the public trust police officers depend on to keep their communities safe,” she said.
Both Ball and Johnston were suspended from the CSPS following the charges, with discussions underway to suspend them without pay. Chief Constable Ian Lawson expressed shock and sadness over the charges and stated that the service had notified the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner about the ongoing investigation by the police watchdog.
The CSPS, which has 28 officers and six civilian members, is located in Central Saanich, a municipality in Greater Victoria. Law enforcement in the area has been rocked by the allegations, with many in the community personally familiar with their officers.
The Vancouver Police Department, assisted by Victoria police, took both men into custody on Tuesday morning. The investigation is ongoing, with further developments expected as the case progresses.
