News Release
Toronto Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 12-TSA-232
Mississauga (4 October, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Toronto Police Service (TPS) officer committed criminal offences in relation to two incidents involving a 37-year-old woman. Director Scott has caused charges to be laid against the officer.
The SIU was contacted by the TPS regarding complaints of a sexual nature against the officer – one incident was alleged to have taken place on May 25, 2012, and the other on August 10, 2012. An investigation was launched, and as a result of the findings, Constable Rodney Barr of the TPS is facing two counts of Sexual Assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 2201 Finch Avenue West in Toronto on November 13, 2012. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, 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