News Release
Sex Assault Charge Laid Against Toronto Police Officer
Case Number: 15-TSA-221
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit has caused a sexual assault charge to be laid against a sergeant with the Toronto Police Service.
An SIU investigation found the following:
- Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on September 24, 2015, a Toronto police officer, Sergeant Christopher Heard, encountered a 27-year-old woman near Wellington Street West and Blue Jays Way.
- The woman was driven to her residence by the officer in his police vehicle.
- The assault is alleged to have occurred in the vehicle during the drive to the complainant’s residence.
As a result of this investigation, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed the criminal offence of sexual assault. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid.
Toronto Police Sergeant Christopher Heard is now facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall Courthouse in Toronto on April 14, 2016.
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.
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