An RCMP officer in Cold Lake has been charged in connection to an arrest in that community in September, 2012.

RCMP announced Wednesday that Constable Chad McRae, with the Cold Lake Detachment, had been charged with one count of common assault.

The charge stems from a year-long investigation into the officer’s conduct during an arrest in late September, 2012.

At the time of the arrest, CTV News learned it all started with a call to RCMP to break up a party outside a community hall.

RCMP said one of the partygoers refused to leave, and became aggressive towards police – two officers allegedly tried to put him in handcuffs, and in an attempt to subdue a third officer allegedly kicked the man in the face.

The man, identified as Richard Claybert, admitted at the time that heated words were exchanged with RCMP, but he said he is hearing impaired, so he had trouble understanding police.

The officer was charged after a one-year investigation – RCMP said Cst. McRae remains on full duty, and is expected to appear in a Cold Lake Provincial Courtroom January 8.

With files from Sarah Richter