UPDATE: The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) has charged 58i-year-old Gregory Lawrence with assault. The agency began an investigation on June 27, 2023 into complaints of assault during an interaction between two people.
On Jan. 31, following the investigation, police charged Lawrence with assault contrary to section 266 of the Criminal Code and choking contrary to section 267 of the Criminal Code.
Lawrence will make his first appearance in provincial court on Monday, March 18.
The police service added that it will not release anymore information since the matters are now before the court.
Original story
Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence has resigned from the Saskatchewan Party Caucus following word that he is the subject of an active police investigation.
According to a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the "active police investigation is occurring into historical complaints unrelated to his duties as an MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow."
Lawrence, who had previously announced he would not be seeking re-election following a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in August 2023, will now sit as an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the term.
He has been the MLA for the Moose Jaw Wakamow constituency since 2011, winning by 201 votes over NDP incumbent Deb Higgins. Lawrence then won by 695 votes over NDP candidate Karen Purdy during the 2016 election and won by 822 over NDP candidate Melissa Patterson in 2020.
The news release states he is fully co-operating with the police investigation. There are no further details yet about the investigation.
Lawrence is the second Sask Party MLA to face a police investigation this term; last fall, Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA Ryan Domotor was arrested and charged with procuring sexual services, a matter that is still before the courts. Domotor also currently sits as an independent.