Four Winnipeg police officers are facing criminal charges in connection with a raid on a hotel and testimony given at a preliminary hearing, the police force announced Tuesday.

Each of the four officers faces one count of "unlawfully being in a dwelling house," which means being in a particular place with plans to commit a crime. Two of the officers have also been charged with perjury.

All four of the men charged are constables, ranging in age from 26 to 37. Their employment status is under review, police said.

Police have released few details about the circumstances of the arrests, saying only that the force's professional standards unit launched an investigation into the execution of a search warrant connected to a drug case the officers were involved with in 2005.

The PSU's investigation focused on information the officers provided to get a search warrant executed at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Winnipeg.

The perjury charges are connected to testimony given at a preliminary hearing in February 2006 regarding the same case.

Officer to contest charges

Winnipeg lawyer Hymie Weinstein, who represents one of the charged constables, told CBC he also has little information about the allegations against his client, but said he expects to know more after a first court appearance.

"The only time we will be getting information is basically on March 10 or shortly thereafter," he said.

He expects his client to contest the charges.

"Absolutely, he'll be pleading not guilty, and I anticipate the other police officers will be doing the same."

The police unit began its investigation in November 2006, then submitted the file to the province's Department of Justice.

Independent counsel was appointed to review the file. As a result of the review, criminal charges were recommended, the force said Tuesday in a release.

All four officers have been released on promises to appear in court.