Charges against Brandon officer stayed

Charges have been stayed against a Brandon police officer who was accused of assault causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

The charges against Brandon Police Service Const. Myran Hamm came after an investigation by the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba into an incident that took place on Sept. 24, 2023, when a suspect was hit by a police cruiser.

“The Crown has an ongoing obligation to evaluate whether there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction in every case that we prosecute,” Crown attorney Eric Hachinski said in Brandon provincial court last month. “The Crown has determined that there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction on either count, and we will be entering a stay of proceedings.”

Two days after the incident, the IIU launched an investigation, and in February 2025, the agency announced the charges against Hamm.

BPS members responded to a call regarding a man attempting arson on the date of the incident, the IIU said in the news release.

When the suspect ran from the scene, a police vehicle collided with him in front of BPS headquarters, the release said.

It said the man was taken to a Brandon hospital, where it was determined he had a broken arm.

On May 11, which was supposed to be the first day of Hamm’s five-day trial on the charges, the Crown entered a stay of proceedings.

Hachinski said the Crown received a report from defence, which was authored by a use-of-force expert, and after considering the report “in the context of all of the other available evidence in this case,” the Crown determined there wasn’t a reasonable likelihood of conviction.

Defence lawyer Richard Wolson said the IIU’s investigation took 18 months and there have been four different Crown attorneys working the case since Hamm was initially charged.

Wolson said he received disclosure in May 2025, which included an expert report. He said the report was the “impetus” for the charges being laid.

He said the expert’s report was flawed in two ways.

“One on speed and one with regard to braking. It said there was no braking, and it was clear (in) all of the evidence that there was significant braking,” Wolson said.

“Because of this flawed report, this matter has been hanging over Myran’s head now for a period of three years, less four months.”

He said under these circumstances and with the evidence before the court, it was his view that there was no chance of conviction.

Wolson said Hamm had been a well-respected police officer for more than 20 years at the time of the incident, and these charges have affected him in “every conceivable way.”

Hamm has always maintained his innocence, and he has paid a “dear price” for these allegations, he said.

Wolson said his client told him that he can’t let the allegations define him and asked Wolson to thank the Crown for coming to this conclusion.

“He’s grateful for his family standing by him and for being there for him and his co-workers, many of whom are here today to support him,” Wolson said.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com