News Release
Hamilton Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 15-OCI-073
Mississauga (19 October, 2015) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe a police officer with the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by 35-year-old Thomas Schonberger in April of 2015. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015, officers with HPS arrested Mr. Schonberger on King Street West, near Queen Street South. Mr. Schonberger was lodged in cells overnight. When he awoke the next morning, he complained of pain and was taken to Hamilton General Hospital for treatment.
As a result of the SIU investigation, HPS Constable Kudo Park is facing one count 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 45 Main Street East in Hamilton on November 24, 2015. 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 accused 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