LPS investigation confirms charges will not be laid on ARCHES employees

The Lethbridge Police Service will not be criminally charging ARCHES employees after an investigation uncovered the $1.5 million in provincial funds which was previously unaccounted for has been uncovered.

The Alberta Justice Specialized Prosecutions branch supported the findings of the Lethbridge Police investigation and determined it would not recommend criminal charges as there wasn’t a reasonable likelihood of conviction and prosecution would not be in the public interest.

In July of 2020, the Government of Alberta turned over the findings of an independent audit to Lethbridge Police to investigate. During the audit $1.5 million in provincial funds was unaccounted for.

Investigators with the LPS Economic Crimes Unit worked with government officials, auditors, the ARCHES Board of Directors and the Specialized Prosecutions branch. Through a lengthy and comprehensive investigation, in which Special Prosecutions was provided with regular updates on its progress, Lethbridge Police were able to uncover records which accounted for the funding in question.

The findings have been shared with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, which concludes the involvement of the Lethbridge Police Service in the matter.