Chestermere city staffer charged with assault in connection with January incident
A city staffer in Chestermere is now facing a formal charge of assault after police were made aware of an incident while she was working at city hall last month.
Chestermere RCMP laid that charge against 56-year-old Kim Leanne Wallace.
Wallace is the City of Chestermere’s director of corporate services.
She has also acted in a chief-of-staff role in the past.
CTV News approached Wallace about this incident earlier this week, at which time she said these allegations are “very, very false.”
RCMP say they were made aware of an incident at Chestermere city hall on Jan. 26 and launched an investigation.
Wallace was arrested Wednesday.
She has since been released from custody and is set to return to provincial court in Strathmore on March 3.
'GOOSE CHASE'
Chestermere Mayor Jeff Colvin previously denied this incident took place, calling it a wild goose chase for the media that was exaggerated and propagated by people with their own political agendas.
He added that he is willing to co-operate with an RCMP investigation and any next steps that might take place.
“We definitely have to work with any authorities, of course. And again, our job is to make sure that you know everything in our city is protecting the safety of our citizens and of course our staff and management. We take that very seriously,” Colvin said.
Following the publication of this article, Colvin sent CTV News the following statement:
"This is about a personnel matter and it is not appropriate or legally permissible for the city to share personal information on our employees and personnel matters," he said.
"That being said we can confirm that we are aware of the charge against one of our employees for allegedly tapping/poking on the shoulder of a manager by their manager and that employee is not currently attending city hall. I would like to confirm that I have not been provided or seen any official information that anyone was struck or slapped.
"This concerns me that the media is sensationalizing and misleading the public, at the expense of our two city staff members," he added. "The city takes very seriously its commitment to a safe and respectful workplace and is in the process of its own review and investigation of the matter."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
China and Russia's complicated friendship, explained
Chinese leader Xi Jinping just concluded a three-day visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a warm affair in which the two men praised each other and spoke of a profound friendship. It's a high point in a complicated, centuries-long relationship.

Calgary doctor performs spine surgery on conscious patient
Last month, Dr. Michael Yang, a spine surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre, performed a discectomy to remove the damaged part of a herniated disc in the spine, on a patient who was wide awake.
Gwyneth Paltrow ski collision trial brings doctors to stand
More witnesses are expected to testify on Wednesday in a trial about a 2016 ski crash between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired Utah man suing her and claiming her recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage.
'I'm a Canadian': MP named in foreign interference report speaks out, refutes claims
The Liberal MP who allegedly benefitted from Chinese election interference is speaking out against the report, categorically stating the foreign government did not help him in his nomination campaign.
5 remain missing as rescuers continue search through wreckage of Old Montreal fire
The search for victims continues in Old Montreal Wednesday, nearly a week after a major fire left at least two dead and five missing. Rescuers are slowly but surely combing through the historic building, which contained multiple illegal Airbnb units at the time of the fire.
Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian missiles and drones
Ukraine's president posted video Wednesday showing what he said was a Russian missile slamming into an apartment building in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least one person, after Moscow's forces launched exploding drones before dawn that killed another seven at a student dormitory near Kyiv.
Shake Shack to come to Canada in 2024 with first location set for Toronto
Canadians with a hankering for Shake Shack's juicy burgers soon won't have to cross the border to satisfy their cravings. Toronto-based private investment firms Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc. announced plans Wednesday to bring the U.S. fast food giant to Canada.
Canadians throw out millions of food products each year. Here's how to reduce that waste
Canadians are throwing out millions of food products each year, a practice that is not only harming the environment but also their wallets. Here are some tips to reduce food waste from an eco expert.
Canadian hemp company imports seeds from Ukraine despite war
Despite the ongoing war, a friendship built in Ukraine allowed an Alberta company to import hemp seeds to Canada in the hopes of growing the plant to produce a desired fibre.