|
|
| The Names | Growing Pains | Reader Comments |
| Links | Actions | Back to Index |
 |
Brutality CanadaPolice Brutality O Canada |
The names of the three cops charged:
Christopher LaChappelle, 36;
Roland Joseph Houle, 54
Clarence Pitterson, 31
By Rob Lamberti, John Schmied And Jonathan Kingstone,
Toronto Sun
Thursday, May 10, 2001
Three Toronto-area police officers are facing criminal charges in unrelated incidents, including an off-duty cop accused of drunk driving in the death of a senior.
The 10-year Peel veteran, based in east Brampton's 21 Division CIB office, was charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm and driving with a blood-alcohol limit over 80 mg in connection with the crash.
Henry Belanger, 78, of Maxwell, south of Owen Sound, was killed about 9:45 p.m. Sunday when his Dodge Spirit was hit by a northbound Suzuki Sidekick that crossed the centre line of Hwy. 10, south of Hwy. 24.
Belanger's daughter, Madeline Henwood, 42, was treated for minor injuries in the Orangeville hospital and released.
Paul Bailey, CAO of the Peel Regional Police Association, said the officer remains hospitalized after surgery to repair his shattered leg.
"We believe in the presumption of innocence and will let the (judicial) system take its course," Bailey said.
"This has been a tragic event for all involved."
OPP Sgt. Bob Patterson said the fact the accused is an officer "doesn't affect our end of the investigation. We conduct a routine investigation the way we would for any other citizen."
Belanger's daughter refused comment on the charges yesterday as she prepared for her father's funeral.
The grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of one is to be buried following a service today at 2 p.m. at the McMillan and Jack Funeral Home in Dundalk.
Christopher LaChappelle, 36, of Orangeville, is to appear in an Orangeville court June 19. Peel Police will review the officer's status while he remains in hospital.
Meanwhile, an off-duty Durham constable was suspended with pay after being charged yesterday after gasoline was poured on the lawn of a Whitby home in an apparent neighbour dispute.
Durham Police said an Evergreen Dr. family has complained since New Year's Day of harassment from a neighbour. Sgt. Paul Malik said a suspect was arrested at 2 a.m. after police found gasoline on the lawn. Roland Joseph Houle, 54, a 28-year officer, is charged with criminal harassment, mischief and prowling.
And, an officer with Toronto's elite Emergency Task Force was charged yesterday with forging a prescription.
Const. Clarence Pitterson, 31, is charged with uttering a forged document (prescription). Pitterson, a 10-year veteran who has been with the ETF for two years, turned himself in following an internal affairs investigation. Police would not disclose details about the alleged forgery or the type of medication involved. The accused officer was awarded a commendation in 1993 for his "professionalism, courage and sound judgment" in catching a suspect wanted for criminal and traffic offences.
Pitterson, who has not been suspended from duty, is to appear in court June 20.
Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law.
Send your comments and stories of police brutality to: ruitsdawtah@Hotmail.com
This page created August 3, 2001
