News Release
Toronto Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 13-TCI-066
Other News Releases Related to Case 13-TCI-066
Mississauga (6 June, 2013) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that an officer with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to injuries sustained by 30-year-old Rudolph Raymond Costain in April of 2010. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU launched its investigation after learning of the incident through media reports in March of 2013. The SIU investigation determined that at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Monday, April 12, 2010, Mr. Costain was arrested on King Street East by officers with the Toronto Police Service. During the arrest process, he was struck a number of times by an officer. He was taken to St. Michael’s Hospital for treatment of head injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, TPS Constable Christian Dobbs is facing one charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 444 Yonge Street in Toronto on July 17, 2013. 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 officers 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