A Saskatoon police officer has resigned after pleading guilty to a charge of assault relating to the arrest of a suspect in 2008, the department said Monday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, a slightly different version of the officer's move was given by police when they issued a news release to announce that Const. Clayton Lazar "has given notice of his decision to retire."

A few hours later, the department contacted media outlets to say the initial release was in error and that Lazar had in fact resigned.

Either way, an internal review of Lazar's conduct will no longer be pursued.

The review was expected after Lazar was charged on Feb. 4, 2009, with assault. The charge related to a Sept. 6, 2008, case in which Lazar was one of the arresting officers. After an investigation, the assault charge was laid on the recommendation of prosecutors from the provincial Ministry of Justice.

Lazar was suspended with pay on the same day he was charged.

'Lost his cool that day': lawyer

Two months later, on April 6, Lazar pleaded guilty to the assault charge. His lawyer, Jay Watson, told reporters that his client had a mental slip.

"He lost his cool that day and he deeply regrets that," Watson said at the time. "Hopefully this will see an end to that and he'll be back to work."

The internal review could have led to a dismissal. Instead, Lazar — by resigning — avoids the consequences of being dismissed.

The police department emphasized that Lazar would still have to abide by the conditions of his sentence on the assault. The brief news release concluded with: "No further comment will be made by the Saskatoon Police Service." They did, however, follow up later with their correction.

Lazar was given a conditional discharge with one year's probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. If he follows all the terms of the sentence he will not end up with a criminal record.

According to material heard in court, Lazar was accused of repeatedly hitting a man in the back of a police car while the man was handcuffed.

Lazar had to be restrained by fellow officers who intervened to stop the attack, but when they let him go, Lazar hit the man again. Lazar was one of several officers who had arrested a man for possession of a stolen vehicle and driving while disqualified.