One of two Central Saanich Police Officers who were arrested and charged yesterday with sexual assault has reportedly died by suicide.
On Tuesday, December 17th, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) announced that 43-year-old Matthew Ball of the Central Saanich Police Service had been arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of breach of trust.
VPD handled the investigation and the arrest of Ball along with one other officer charged with one count of sexual assault, 40-year-old Ryan Johnston.
Just one day after their arrests, Global News first reported “police sources” told them Ball had died by suicide after being released from custody.
The circumstances of Ball’s suicide have not been made public at this time.
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Ball’s charges stem from reported events that took place between February 1st, 2019 and October 31st, 2023.
According to VPD, he and Johnston both, independently of one another, had an inappropriate sexual relationship with the same young woman while in the line of duty.
This information came to the attention of Central Saanich Police Chief Ian Lawson, who then followed protocol and through the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, had VPD investigate the matter.
The woman involved is reported to have been in a vulnerable position during her interactions with Ball and Johnston.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to VPD and the Central Saanich Police Service for comment, but they have not responded as of this publication.
