News Release
Toronto Police Officer Charged with Sexual Assault
Case Number: 16-TSA-076
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:
- Early in the morning on November 1, 2015, a 25-year-old woman encountered a Toronto Police Service officer near King Street West and Blue Jays Way.
- The officer drove the woman to her residence in his police vehicle.
- The complainant alleges that the officer sexually assaulted her after their initial contact.
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. He 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, in relation to this particular incident.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall Courthouse in Toronto on June 9, 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.
If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php
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