COP FACES CHARGE OVER BUNGLED DRUG RAID

A Hamilton police officer has been reassigned to administrative duties
while he awaits a Nov. 8 court hearing on an assault charge related to
a bungled police drug raid at the wrong apartment in May.

Ian Scott, director of the province's Special Investigations Unit,
announced the charge last week against Constable Ryan Tocher in
relation to injuries sustained by 58-year-old Myanmar refugee Po La
Hay during the raid.

The SIU, which provides civilian oversight on police, said it would
make no further comment since the matter is now before the court.

Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire said in a released statement that
he remains "committed to an independent review of this incident," but
that an OPP internal probe will remain on hold pending consultation
with the Ministry of the Attorney General.

"As a Service, we are aware of the impact this has had on the Karen
community and the wider community and all individuals involved
including the members of this Service," De Caire stated, noting police
will not comment further.

"We continue our ongoing work to foster healthy bridge-building
between the police and the communities we serve."

Hamilton police did not originally report Hay's injuries to the SIU
because they didn't believe his injuries were serious enough to
require notification, resulting in a month-long delay in the probe.

His reported injuries, which required hospitalization, included
fractures to his nose, ribs and vertebrae in the spine, as well as a
possible eye injury.

Provincial ombudsman Andre Marin has previously called on the province
to include a definition of a serious injury in legislation to prevent
any confusion in the future.