The province’s Special Investigations Unit says a Toronto police sergeant has been charged with sexual assault in relation to an incident alleged to have taken place in his cruiser last year.
The SIU says that early in the morning on Nov. 1, 2015, a 25-year-old woman came into contact with a police officer in the area of King Street West and Blue Jays Way.
Investigators say the officer drove the woman home in his police vehicle.
The woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by the officer.
Sgt. Christopher Heard has been charged with one count of sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on June 9.
Heard is facing another sexual assault charge related to a separate incident alleged to have occurred early in the morning on Sept. 24 in the city’s entertainment district.
In that case, a 27-year-old complainant said she was picked up by an officer at Wellington Street West and Blue Jays Way and driven to her home. She was allegedly sexually assaulted in the officer’s cruiser during the drive.
Toronto police spokesperson Meghan Gray said Heard was suspended with pay after the first alleged incident was made public in March, and then later reinstated to work modified duties.
She said Heard was suspended with pay a second time in light of these latest allegations.
“Anytime one of our police officers is charged whether on or off duty it is a concern for us,” Gray said.
The SIU investigates any incident involving police where there has been death, serious injury, or an allegation of sexual assault.
