Detective Chrisopher Higgins of the Toronto Police is currently on trial for assault causing bodily harm in relation to an incident that occurred in 2004 involving now-deceased heroin addict Gary Shuparski. Detective Higgins allegedly broke Shuparski’s arm in an interview room at a downtown police station. However, Constable Joe Pednault testified earlier this week that he may have broken Shuparski’s arm during the initial arrest at the addict’s home.
According to the Toronto Sun:
Pednault was the first officer to burst into Shuparski’s Jane St.-Wilson Ave. apartment to execute a search warrant. The 6-foot, 250-pound officer was confronted by Shuparski, who was brandishing scissors.
Pednault later testified Shuparski never complained about his arm during the ride in a police cruiser from his North York home to downtown, only bickering about the tightness of his handcuffs and requiring stitches for his forehead gash.
Det. Higgins was previously acquitted on the same charge in 2005, however, a new trial was ordered on appeal which the Globe and Mail indicates may “have no precedent in a criminal charge laid against a Toronto police officer.” Final arguments were made by Crown and defence lawyers yesterday.
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