News Release
Waterloo Regional Police Service Officer Charged with Sexual Assault
Case Number: 17-OSA-301
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has caused a charge to be laid against a Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) officer in relation to an incident that reportedly occurred in October of 2017.
The SIU was contacted by WRPS on October 16, 2017 regarding a complaint of a sexual nature against the officer. The alleged assault reportedly occurred the night of October 14, 2017 against a woman at an Oktoberfest celebration at the Concordia Club in Kitchener. The officer was off-duty at the time of the alleged incident.
As a result of the SIU investigation, WRPS Constable Eric Schnarr is facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code.
Cst Schnarr is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 85 Frederick Street in Kitchener on March 28, 2018.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations