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Surrey RCMP officer to stand trial on multiple gun charges

Const. David Matthew Clarke was charged four years ago for alleged Chilliwack offences.
Const. David Clarke outside Surrey Provincial Court EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
RCMP Const. David Clarke outside Surrey Provincial Court last week. Following a preliminary hearing

A Surrey RCMP officer charged with numerous firearm offences in 2010 has been ordered to stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court.

Const. David Matthew Clarke was in Surrey Provincial Court early this week for a preliminary hearing of evidence, which concluded Wednesday (Dec. 17).

He was initially charged with 15 offences, but has been ordered to stand trial on 12 of them.

The charges include breach of trust by a public officer, possession of stolen property, three counts of of unauthorized possession of a firearm, three of knowingly possessing a firearm without a licence, two of possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, and two counts of knowingly possessing a prohibited weapon without a licence.

The charges relate to offences that allegedly occurred in Chilliwack.

The case will now be heard in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. A trial date has yet to be set.

When Clarke was charged four years ago, Surrey's then-Chief Supt. Fraser MacRae said such situations "are very rare" but taken very seriously.

Clarke remains suspended without pay. His next court date is Jan. 8.