The provincial police watchdog has charged a Toronto police officer with an investigation into an interaction he had with a 48-year-old man during an arrest near the city’s boardwalk in February.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said two Toronto police officers were patrolling the area on Lake Shore Boulevard West and Lower Sherbourne Street on Feb. 11 when they found a man wanted with pending orders.
“There was an interaction between the officers and the man, and he was arrested,” said the SIU, which is investigating incidents with police officers where there have been serious injuries, deaths or reports of sexual assault.
On Friday, the SIU announced that Const. Louie Cerqua was charged with assault.
Joseph Martino, the director of the SIU, said he had “reasonable grounds” to believe that Cerqua “committed a crime in connection with the arrest in February of a 48-year-old man”.
“Because the matter is before the courts, and given the interests of a fair trial of the accused, the SIU will not comment further on the investigation,” the agency said.
Cerqua is scheduled to appear in court on June 27.