News Release
Former Peel Police Officer Charged with Sexual Assault
Case Number: 16-OSA-187
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe a former police officer with Peel Regional Police (PRP) committed a criminal offence against a female in the summer of 2009. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the former officer.
The SIU was contacted by PRP on July 14, 2016 regarding a complaint of a sexual nature against the former officer, which was alleged to have taken place in 2009 when he was an active officer.
As a result of the SIU investigation, 55-year-old Mr. Carlton Watson is facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Watson is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton on March 27, 2017.
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 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