Sudbury police officer charged with sexual assault

NEWS RELEASE

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

************************* SIU lays charge against Greater Sudbury police officer TORONTO (April 25, 2007) - James Cornish, the director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has caused a criminal charge to be laid against a Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) officer.

On February 28, 2007, the GSPS notified the SIU that a female complainant had come forward with a complaint of sexual assault.

As a result, three SIU investigators were assigned to investigate an incident in which the complainant alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Sergeant (Sgt.) Robert Geick on an occasion in the mid-1990s.

Based on the evidence from the SIU investigation, the director has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Sgt. Robert Geick committed the offence of sexual assault in the City of Greater Sudbury, 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 May 9, 2007, in Sudbury.

Justice Prosecutions 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 and the community, 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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