3 Toronto police officers charged with sexual assault in off-duty incident
Charges against 51 Division officers stem from alleged incident involving a woman on Jan. 17
Three Toronto police officers appeared in court Thursday to face charges of sexual assault and gang sexual assault.
The charges apparently relate to the alleged assault of a female parking enforcement officer on Jan. 17. A news release from the Toronto Police Service indicates the officers were off-duty at the time.
The accused officers are Joshua Cabero, 28, Leslie Nyznik, 38, and Sameer Kara, 31. All three work with 51 Division on Parliament Street.
The officers were released on $15,000 bail each. They must adhere to bail conditions that include not possessing any weapons, not consuming alcohol and staying away from the complainant. The accused must also avoid some downtown bars and the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
The accused officers did not speak to members of the media after leaving court.
The city's police chief was asked about the charges Thursday, but offered limited remarks given that the case is now being dealt with in court.
"The matter was reported, it was investigated, charges have now been laid. The matter is now before the courts," Chief Bill Blair told reporters.
Mike McCormack, the president of the Toronto Police Association, told CBC News the union is "very concerned with the nature of these charges."
He confirmed that the accused had been suspended with pay.
The accused officers are due to appear in court again next month.
With files from The Canadian Press and CBC's John Lancaster, Jasmin Seputis and Jamie Strashin