RCMP officer charged with helping family member cross border
Aaron Baringue, a Champlain Border Patrol officer, allegedly used his knowledge of unguarded crossing routes to facilitate an illegal entry.
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An RCMP officer will appear at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu courthouse on July 20 on charges of breach of trust and obstruction after allegedly helping a family member illegally cross the Canada-US border.
Aaron Baringue, 36, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, turned himself in to his supervisor on September 26, 2024, the day after the unauthorized crossing. He had been working as a patrol officer with the Champlain Border Patrol since 2019.
According to Constable Marie-Pierre Guertin, Baringue traveled to the United States in his personal vehicle while off duty to pick up a distant family member who had been refused entry to Canada. He then drove the person to an unguarded border route where they illegally entered. Hours later, he returned to the Canadian side.
US Customs and Border Patrol detected the crossing and reported it to the RCMP. Canadian patrol officers conducted searches for several hours without success. The family member's case is now handled by the Canada Border Services Agency.
The RCMP's Special Investigations Unit handled the case and maintains it was treated like any other investigation despite Baringue's status as an officer. He has been suspended from his duties since the events.