Two Winnipeg police officers were charged in provincial court on Friday for their roles in a shooting incident in 2007.

Const. Darrel Keith Selley, 35, has seven charges, including a count of attempted murder. His partner, Const. Kristopher John Overwater, 29, is accused of helping Selley attempt to fabricate evidence.

The officers, both six-year veterans, were arrested this week. They have been released from custody and placed on administrative leave from their duties while the police department decides on their future status.

Their first court date is June 1.

The charges stem from a report of a robbery that came in shortly before 2:45 a.m. CT on July 16, 2007, on Portage Avenue, west of Polo Park shopping centre, police said.

A car chase followed, with the officers investigating the call pursuing a man they incorrectly believed to be involved in the robbery. The officers' car and the one driven by Kristofer Shawn Fournier — collided, and the officers chased Fournier on foot near Grant Avenue and Lindsay Street, where he was shot in the lower body.

Police later determined that Fournier, who was treated in hospital for the injuries, was not involved in the robbery.

The incident triggered a lengthy investigation by the Winnipeg Police Service. The department's findings were forwarded to the Manitoba Department of Justice, which had a lawyer independent of the Crown's office review the file.

After the review, the Justice Department determined that charges should be laid.

Selley's charges are:

• Attempted murder.
• Fabricating evidence.
• Discharging a firearm with intent to wound.
• Aggravated assault with a weapon.
• Careless use of a weapon.
• Aiding and abetting dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
• Criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Overwater's charges are:

• Fabricating evidence.
• Aiding and abetting discharge of a firearm with intent to wound.
• Aiding and abetting aggravated assault with a weapon.
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Separate incident

Their arrests and charges against come on the heels of charges in a separate incident against two other Winnipeg officers.

On March 18, Const. Graeme Beattie and Const. Paul Clark were charged with fabricating evidence, attempting to obstruct justice and public mischief.

The officers are accused of falsifying notes and reports that led to a man, 20, being charged with drug trafficking last May.

The case wound its way through the courts for months until the Crown stayed the charges on Oct. 31. An internal police service investigation into the officers' actions was launched in November, resulting in the charges being laid last month.

The mischief charges stem from the alleged falsified reports, which caused police to unnecessarily investigate a drug-trafficking offence.