Vancouver officers charged with assault in off-duty bar incident go to trial

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A trial began Monday for a pair of Vancouver police officers charged after an off-duty incident in a nightclub in December 2023.

Constables Josh Wong and Brian Hunt each face one count of assault related to a confrontation at Isabelle’s, a now-closed Yaletown bar.

Kevin Westell, Wong’s lawyer, told the court there is no question the officers applied force, but he suggested it was in self-defence—and proportional.

The confrontation began with a dispute about the lineup for the bathrooms in the club, the court heard.

CCTV played Monday showed Hunt grabbing a man near the neck or face and shoving him back.

A photo submitted in evidence shows a large, discoloured area on the man’s neck.

A second video the court saw shows Wong shoving a different alleged victim to the floor.

On the witness stand, that man testified he knocked his head when he landed, causing a large painful bump.

A photo also showed a large bruise on his torso.

Although the incident took place in Vancouver, the New Westminster Police Department was tasked with conducting the investigation.

A Vancouver Police Department spokesperson confirms neither Wong nor Hunt is currently on active duty.

About a dozen off-duty officers in civilian clothes sat in the gallery behind the two accused in court on the first day of the trial.

The assault trial is scheduled for five days.

When it is over, and the judge has rendered a verdict, the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner will conduct a misconduct investigation under the Police Act.

Wong is also one of seven VPD officers involved in a public hearing into the 2015 beating death of Myles Gray, which is set to resume later this year after a lengthy delay.

If the adjudicator in that matter finds Wong committed misconduct, the range of possible penalties includes dismissal from the department.