Iqaluit (May 22/06) - An RCMP officer pleaded guilty last week to assaulting a woman, but his future with the force remains uncertain.

Const. Michael Salomine pleaded guilty in an Iqaluit court last Wednesday to one count of assault. Crown prosecutors stayed two other counts of assault against the same woman and one count of careless use of a firearm. The charges, brought against Salomonie in November 2005, relate to incidents that occurred between October 2004 and September 2005.

The 28-year-old former Cape Dorset resident has been suspended without pay since Feb. 22.

He received a conditional discharge on the assault, following a suspended sentence and one year's probation. A conditional sentence means he will not have a criminal record, leaving him free to return to the RCMP.

However, the RCMP is conducting an internal investigation, but wouldn't comment on any aspects of it or the guilty plea at this time.

According to an agreed statement, Salomonie grabbed the woman by the back of her shirt and shoved her toward the stairs of a home.

She fell and was bruised in the incident.