Sudbury cop charged with sexual assault

NEWS RELEASE

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

********************* Greater Sudbury police officer charged TORONTO, Aug. 1 - The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), James Ramsay, has caused a criminal charge to be laid against a Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) officer. On February 27, 2006, two SIU investigators were assigned to investigate an incident that allegedly occurred on or about December 18, 2004, in the city of Greater Sudbury in which a 34-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by a GSPS officer. Based on the evidence from the SIU investigation, the Deputy Director has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe that the GSPS officer committed the offence of sexual assault, contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada. The officer has been released on a promise to appear and an undertaking with conditions.

He will next appear in court on September 13, 2006, in Sudbury.

The justice prosecutions section for the crown law office criminal, of the Ministry of the Attorney General, will have carriage of the prosecution. As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.

The SIU is a civilian government agency that investigates circumstances involving police and civilians, which have resulted in serious injury or death.

Under Section 113 of the Police Services Act, the director of the SIU has the authority to decide whether or not charges are warranted based on the findings of an investigation.

The director's decision is reported to the attorney general.

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