OFFICER ACCUSED OF ROBBERIES NOW SET FOR BAIL HEARING

Lawyer claims police veteran Darin Cooper suffered injuries

A Toronto police officer accused of taking part in fake police drug
shakedowns and home invasion robberies across the GTA made a brief
appearance in a Newmarket court yesterday.

Darin Cooper was remanded in custody and will appear for a bail hearing
tomorrow.

The 10-year police veteran, assigned to the criminal investigation bureau of
55 Division at Coxwell Ave. and Dundas St. E., was arrested Friday morning
along with six other people after search warrants were executed by York
Region and Toronto police.

He and his co-accused face a slew of charges, including attempted murder,
breach of trust, impersonating police, armed robbery, conspiracy, possession
of a controlled substance, possession of unregistered restricted weapons,
assault, break and enter, and possession of property obtained by crime.

More charges are pending, the court was told yesterday.

Assistant Crown Attorney Dennis Quong caused some confusion when he told
Madame Justice Adele Romagnoli that three more people had been arrested over
the weekend in connection with the alleged armed robbery ring.

It appears Quong's information - apparently from a lawyer representing one
of the men about to be arrested - was wrong.

Although investigators are looking at other suspects, no one else has been
arrested yet, Quong confirmed yesterday afternoon, correcting the earlier
misinformation.

Although Cooper had no visible marks on him yesterday, his lawyer, Todd
White, said outside the courtroom that his client sustained serious injuries
last week that required medical attention over the weekend.

"He's in seriously rough shape," White said.

The lawyer wouldn't say what the injuries were, or how he got them.

When asked where on his body the injuries were, White replied: "Clearly, on
his face, his arms, everywhere."

White refused further comment, saying that relevant information would come
out at the bail hearing. He hopes to have Cooper's medical records available
then, White said.

Cooper is being held in segregation for his own protection at the Metro West
Detention Centre.

He has been suspended with pay, a fact Toronto police Chief Julian Fantino
has publicly criticized.

Police will not give details of the crimes, but police sources have told The
Star the charges relate to drug rip-offs and recent home invasions.

Many of the crimes were carried out by suspects posing as police officers,
sources say.

Also charged are Bobby Manchev, 31, Elie Salama, 24, Peter Maroulis, 29,
Nick Koulias, 29, and Mike Wassilyn, 27, all of Toronto, and Kristopher
Della-Pia, 22, of no fixed address.