A Toronto Police Service officer is facing theft and assault charges following a landlord and tenant dispute last month.
A man and a woman became involved in a dispute related to tenancy on Dec. 6 after the man allegedly entered one of the units, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) said in a press release. It is alleged the woman was assaulted during the confrontation and property valued at more than $5,000 was stolen from the home, police said.
Edward Park, a 54-year-old constable with the Toronto Police Service, was charged Jan. 21 with unlawfully entering a dwelling, theft, and assault in connection with the incident.
He is scheduled to appear in court on March 5 and has been suspended with pay per the Police Services Act.
Other Assault Charges
Const. Park is not the only TPS officer to be charged with assault in recent months. Another constable, who was also working in the Communications Department, was charged with assault after an alleged dispute with a woman on Dec. 20.Although Toronto police did not release any details about the alleged assault, the Dec. 21 press release said Const. Sameer Kara, 40, was also suspended with pay as per the Police Services Act.
Const. Kara, who has 14 years of service, was also charged with assault in April 2022 after a woman was allegedly struck during a dispute.
A press release issued at the time indicated Toronto police responded to a call in the area of Dundas and Keele Street shortly after 5 a.m. An arrest at the scene resulted in Const. Kara being charged with assault. He was also suspended with pay in connection with that dispute.
No criminal convictions arose from the case, however, and Const. Kara was able to resume his duties.
In 2017, Const. Kara was acquitted in a high-profile sexual assault trial in which two fellow officers were also accused. Const. Kara, Const. Leslie Nyznik, and Const. Joshua Cabero, all officers at 51 Division at the time, were accused of sexually assaulting a female parking enforcement officer while she was too intoxicated to consent.
The complainant, who could not be named under a court-issued publication ban, alleged she was sexually assaulted multiple times at a downtown hotel in January 2015, according to court documents. She told the court she was unable to move or talk during the alleged assault and said her memories of the incident were spotty.
Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy acquitted the accused officers, saying the victim testimony presented in court was inconsistent with previous statements made to police.
