News Release
SIU Lays Charges against Two Durham Regional Police Service Officers
Case Number: 17-OCI-094
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The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe two Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) officers committed criminal offences in relation to the arrest of a 35-year-old man in April of 2017. Director Loparco has caused multiple charges to be laid against each officer.
The SIU investigation found the following:
- On the night of April 26, 2017 in Oshawa, the man was a passenger in a vehicle being operated by another individual.
- At approximately 9 p.m., DRPS officers had the vehicle pull over on Bruce Street.
- The passenger became involved in an interaction with the officers.
- He was arrested and taken to the police station. Shortly after, the man was transported by ambulance to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, 42-year-old DRPS Constable James Edward Scholtes and 35-year-old DRPS Constable Thomas Broadfoot are each facing the following charges under the Criminal Code:
- One count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to section 267(b);
- One count of obstruct justice, contrary to section 139(2); and
- One count of obstruct peace officer, contrary to section 129(a).
The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 150 Bond Street in Oshawa on March 22, 2018.
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