News Release
Durham Regional Police Service Officer Charged with Sexual Assault
Case Number: 19-OSA-241
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has caused charges to be laid against a Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) officer in relation to incidents that reportedly occurred in Oshawa in 2017 and 2018.
The SIU was contacted by the DRPS on October 3, 2019 regarding a complaint received of a sexual nature, against an officer with the DRPS. The alleged sexual assaults reportedly occurred at points in 2017 and 2018 against a woman.
As a result of the SIU investigation, 49-year-old Sergeant Robert Stoddart is facing two counts of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code.
Sergeant Stoddart is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 150 Bond Street East in Oshawa, on April 6, 2020.
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