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Friday, June 25, 2010

Stunt was no joke

Source: Barrie Examiner
Mr. Lahey's grand entrance into downtown Barrie played out in true Trailer Park Boysstyle.

One person pulled a foolish prank and another got a ticket.

John Dunsworth, 64, who plays Jim Lahey, the deranged trailer park supervisor on the show, was seen car-surfing down Dunlop Street on route to an autograph session.


Sadly, his improv move left 17-year-old Kyle Panezutti with charges, and nearly cost him his licence and wheels.

"That kid had nothing to do with what I did. I just jumped up on his car, kind of improv, and I didn't mean for him to get in trouble," an upset Dunsworth toldThe Barrie ExaminerMonday. "I was just there for an autograph session, we played a gig up the street at Yuk Yuks."

Dunsworth was headed to Liquid Chrome, a water-pipe and lighter superstore, to meet fans and sign posters, and decided it'd be funny to hitch a ride on Panezutti's black GMC Jimmy.

Then, he had a performance with co-star Randy (Patrick Roach) at the Barrie comedy club that night.

He said the stunt wasn't planned and Panezutti didn't know it was coming. "I want people to know he (Panezutti) doesn't know me. I don't know him," Dunsworth said.

Panezutti can second that. The young man said he was merely sitting in traffic, heading down to hopefully catch a glimpse of Mr. Lahey.

But, he didn't expect to have him perched on his mom's SUV.

"I watch (Trailer Park Boys) a lot, and my buddy and I went down to see if we could meet him (Dunsworth) and get a picture," Panezutti said. "I stopped at a light near Liquid Chrome and saw him and said 'Hi' to him. Then, suddenly, I felt someone jump up on top of my car.

"I thought he'd just jump back off, but he just stayed there," he added. "But I was stopped. I wasn't driving fast down the street with him up there."

Jiri Kusak, Liquid Chrome's district manager, said the incident, and Dunsworth's presence, drew a big crowd at his store from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

"He (Dunsworth) actually climbed up on some guy's car and car-surfed, before being escorted into our store," Kusak said, with a laugh. "It was pretty funny. I'm guessing there were 300 people there. He drew a great crowd."

Kusak said the crowd loved the stunt, and pictures of it were actually posted on Liquid Chrome's Facebook page.

While Dunsworth insists the stunt was his fault and his idea, a nearby Barrie police officer thought otherwise. He initially charged Panezutti with stunt driving, but later lowered it to careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

Panezutti and his mother, Pandy Stoppert, are livid, and feel the charges should be dropped due to the joking nature of the stunt.

But Barrie Police Chief Wayne Frechette said he believes the charge was necessary.

"It's about him committing a driving offence. If I'm driving, and some guy's on my roof, I'm still the one committing the offence," Frechette said. "We're not looking to charge the other guy, on the car. I don't think we can charge him. There's no charge for stupidity.

"The officer probably talked to that guy, and I really question that guy's (Dunsworth) sanity for doing something like that. But I don't think we were wrong in charging the driver."

Stoppert is furious with Barrie police, and could hardly contain her anger while speaking with The Barrie Examiner, Monday.

"I'm livid with that officer to let this be escalated to this point," the Barrie mom said. "It started out as something weird happening, and has caused so much grief and expense. I'm still trying to get this charge abolished.

"Tell me, how is he responsib

le for an unknown person jumping on his car? I can't grasp this," she added. "I'm still in shock and really frustrated over this."

Stoppert said she actually met with Dunsworth and he accompanied her and her son to the Barrie police station Monday morning.

"He went with us and told the police it wasn't Kyle's fault," she said. "He paid the towing fee for my car, and he said he's willing to pay our legal fees when we go to court.

"He even gave Kyle and his buddy free VIP passes to the show Sunday night and he got up on stage and explained what happened to the crowd," she added.

Frechette said although the charge has been laid, there might still be some hope for Panezutti.

"He (Dunsworth) can, if he wishes, come to Barrie court and testify on the kid's behalf, maybe the judge will believe him and go easy on him," Frechette said. "Maybe it won't make any difference. You never know."

That isn't enough for Stoppert, who wants her son's name cleared. But she could see one silver lining.

"The only thing that saved Kyle is them dropping the charge, which got him his license and his car back today," she said.

ncruickshank @ thebarrieexaminer.co m

Article ID# 2572378

Officers charged for assault on trail

Source:Enterprise-Bulletin

Posted By SHAWN GIILCK

Two Collingwood OPP officers have been charged with assaulting a woman on the Black Ash Creek Trail.

The alleged incident occurred June 1, and OPP officials -- including Collingwood OPP detachment commander Inspector John Trude -- were tight-lipped about the details Wednesday.

"The complaint was investigated by Professional Standards, and as the matter is before the courts, I have no further comment other than the information released in the original press release," Trude stated in an email to the Enterprise-Bulletin.


According to a news release from central region media relations officer Const. Peter Leon, the OPP's Professional Standards Bureau charged two members of the Collingwood OPP detachment this morning following the investigation of an incident that occurred while both officers were off-duty.

Provincial Const. Jeremy Shiffman, 38, a five-year member of the OPP, and Provincial Const. Ashley Plumb, 26, a three-year member of the OPP have each been charged with assault.

According to police, on the morning of June 1, a 34-year-old Collingwood woman was out walking along the Black Ash Trail. At the same time, the two off-duty officers were running along the trail when a physical altercation occurred between them and the woman.

Leon said the Professional Standards Bureau commenced an investigation immediately.

Both Shiffman and Plumb are apparently avid long-distance runners, having appeared in many races around Ontario, according to an Internet search. Little else is known about them.

In a telephone interview, Leon declined to provide more details on the incident, saying the matter was "before the courts."

"I can't speak to specific details," he told theEnterprise-Bulletin.

"Once the complaint was received it was immediately investigated," he added. "The officers were placed on administrative duties once the OPP became aware of the incident and will remain working in this capacity until the conclusion of the court case."

Both Shiffman and Plumb are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Collingwood on July 20

Police officer charged with child porn

Source: Brantfordexpositor.ca
Posted By JOE BELANGER, QMI Agency

London police have charged a Brantford police officer -- already facing Police Act charges -- with possession of child pornography.

Police said the man was arrested Monday and the investigation was launched after police received a complaint about child pornography on his computer.

A source said the officer lived in London at the time of the offence, but no other details were immediately available.


Timothy McPhee, 34 years, of Woodstock is charged with possession of child pornography.

McPhee, a constable, is scheduled to face a disciplinary hearing on a Police Act charge of insubordination on July 27.

A spokesperson for Brantford police could not immediately be reached for comment, although a press release is expected to be issued later today.

Police allege McPhee accessed the Canadian Police Information Centre, or CPIC, on more than one occasion for personal reasons between Oct. 28, 2009 and Jan. 11, 2010.

CPIC is the confidential, online police information system about criminals and crimes. It is illegal to access the system unless related to an investigation or in the performance of an officer's duties.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Hamilton police officers face assault charges

Source: The Spec
June 24, 2010
By Nicole O’Reilly
A Hamilton police officer charged with impaired driving last month is now facing threatening and assault charges following an incident in a Cambridge bar that preceded the impaired driving incident.

A second officer, who was also in the bar on May 30, has also been charged with assault with a weapon.

Both officers were off duty at the time, and have since been suspended from front-line patrol duties with Hamilton police, said Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings.

Waterloo Regional police spokesperson Olaf Heinzel said he could not elaborate on the disturbance in the bar, as the matter is before the courts.

The impaired charges against Kevin Farrell, 26, were laid immediately after he was pulled over around 1:30 a.m. Heinzel said an investigation in to the preceding bar incident ensued, leading to the charges announced today.

The two-year member of the Hamilton police and Stoney Creek resident now also faces charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and assault.

Caitriona Sabatini, 26, of Stoney Creek and a three-year member of the police service is charged with assault with a weapon.

Farrell was scheduled to appear in a Cambridge court today on the impaired driving charges. On today’s charges he was released on a promise to appear Aug. 19.

Sabatini was also released on a promise to appear Aug. 26.



noreilly@thespec.com

905-526-3199

Special constable charged with assaulting person in custody

Source: The Spec
June 24, 2010
Nicole O’Reilly
Hamilton Spectator

A Niagara Regional police special constable is facing assault charges following an incident with a person in custody.

The incident occurred April 27 when the male special constable was working in the Niagara Falls holding cell.

Police have not released any details of the incident, other than to say the 10-year police services employee was charged with assault today.


Detectives from Niagara’s policing standards unit investigated this matter.

The special constable is suspended from duty with pay while awaiting disposition.

He has been released from police custody and is scheduled to appear in a Niagara court on Aug. 20.

noreilly@thespec.com
905-526-3199

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Cop broke heroin addict's arm

Source:Cnews

By SAM PAZZANO, QMI Agency


NEWMARKET, Ont. - A hulking Toronto cop was found guilty Tuesday of assault causing bodily harm for breaking a scrawny heroin addict's arm.

Madam Justice Lucia Favret found Det. Christopher Higgins guilty of assault causing bodily harm against Gary Shuparski, then 50, on April 1, 2004, based on medical evidence and other testimony that corroborates the addict's version of events.

"It doesn't make any sense that he wouldn't have complained of (the broken arm) earlier, so he could make the police take him to the hospital," Favret said in reading her judgment.

Shuparski testified that Higgins kicked his arm "like a football" in an interview room at 51 Division while the 5-foot-7, 120-pound prisoner was on the floor, using his forearms to protect his ribs.

It's the second trial on these allegations for Higgins, 39, a 20-year veteran of the police service, who was acquitted at a 2005 trial. The Crown appealed, winning a second trial in 2007.

Shuparski received what is known as a "classic night-stick fracture" -- which usually occurs when the forearm bone, exposed in a defensive gesture, is struck by a hard object such as a baseball bat or lead pipe, court heard.

The defence is asserting Shuparski's arm was accidentally broken when 250-pound Const. Joe Pedneault and 275-pound Higgins arrested him at his North York apartment.

Favret rejected the defence version. She ruled instead that his arm was broken in an interview room at 51 Division when Shuparski was alone in the room with Higgins.

Shuparski angered the burly Higgins by using an obscenity to tell him to look up his date of birth, rather than answering the officer's question.

Shuparski, who died of a heroin overdose in 2006, testified he was punched and dropped to the floor.

He said he then shielded his ribs with his arms from Higgins' kick.

Favret noted that Shuparski was strip-searched, removing his T-shirt without difficulty, and appeared normal, if upset, by the arrest.

His immediate reaction -- profanely accusing Higgins of breaking his f---ing arm" -- and writhing in intense pain was consistent with expert medical evidence given at the trial, said Favret.

Favret will sentence Higgins on Sept. 29.

sam.pazzano@sunmedia.ca

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They had No Choice!

They had No Choice!
They wore these or I took away thier toys for 7 days!

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"Damn Street Racer"pays with Brusies

"Damn Street Racer"pays with Brusies