Thursday, November 27, 2008

Constable Jason Ross Gets 6 months for Punching Another Officer

Peel Police Constable Jason Ross has received a six-month jail sentence in connection with punching another officer in the nose after being stopped for suspected drunk driving.

Ross pleaded guilty earlier this week to aggravated assault, impaired driving and mischief.

He received six months for the assault and seven days for his impaired conviction.

He was also placed on probation for two years.

The Georgetown officer was Tasered when he began brawling with fellow officers after being stopped in north Mississauga in the early hours of Sept. 12.

He was off-duty at the time and remains suspended without pay and is also expected to face discipline under the Police Act from Peel's Professional Standards bureau.

He had been charged with three counts of assaulting police, one count of assault causing bodily harm, excess blood alcohol, impaired operation of a motor vehicle and mischief.

In the incident, Ross was driving when he was stopped by police about 3:40 a.m. in the area of Winston Churchill Blvd. and Derry Rd. in Mississauga.

At the time, Ross, an eight-year veteran, was already under suspension in connection with an unrelated assault charge.

Police revealed that officers had to use a Taser to subdue Ross after he fought with his fellow officers, including breaking the nose of one of them.

Last year, he was one of 24 officers disciplined as part of an internal affairs investigation into an off-duty beer party held behind a Mississauga furniture store.

Ross pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act and was ordered to work seven days without pay following a disciplinary hearing.

He admitted consuming alcohol in a public place while off-duty in the early morning hours of Aug. 28, 2006 and failed to follow proper procedures when detaining and questioning two men – Mississauga residents Richard Cimpoesu, 24, and Orlando Canizalez, 20.

The claimed they were chased and beaten after police caught them videotaping their boozing.

Canizalez and Cimpoesu later filed a $12-million lawsuit against Peel police.

No comments: