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Abstract

Officer facing assault charge; [Final Edition]

Jonathan Fowlie. The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: Feb 7, 2007. pg. B.1.Fro

Abstract (Summary)

[Todd Sweet] was also being sued in separate actions by William Harris and Patricia de Laney, who alleged Sweet used excessive force. Harris's suit was settled out of court last June and de Laney's has not yet been resolved, [Lorne Zapotichny] said Tuesday.

- Aug. 23, 2005: Sweet fires three shots into a stolen SUV killing 16-year-old [Kyle Tait]. Sweet has said the SUV was being used as a weapon and that he feared "significant bodily harm." Crown counsel is reviewing the case.

Colour Photo: Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun / NEW WESTMINSTER POLICE CHIEF DISCUSSES CASE AT NEWS CONFERENCE: New Westminster Police Chief Lorne Zapotichny announces criminal charge of assault causing bodily harm against [Const]. Todd Sweet who is suspended.; Colour Photo: Const. Todd Sweet.

»  Jump to indexing (document details)

Full Text (761  words)

(Copyright Vancouver Sun 2007)

Ran with fact box "Rap Sheet", which has been appended to the end of the story.

NEW WESTMINSTER - A police officer who remains under investigation for fatally shooting a 16-year-old in August 2005 has been charged with assault after allegedly kicking a handcuffed prisoner just weeks before the shooting.

Const. Todd Sweet was charged Tuesday with assault causing bodily harm and suspended from the New Westminster force with pay in connection with the alleged kicking incident in June 2005. Details of the matter have only recently become public.

"I want to state clearly to the residents of New Westminster that no matter what the outcome, neither I nor any of my officers will ever tolerate the mistreatment of those in our custody," New Westminster Police Chief Lorne Zapotichny said at a press conference at police headquarters.

"We have a responsibility to deliver the highest level of care and professionalism at all times," he said.

Sweet -- who has been the subject of either lawsuits, internal investigations, or both, in at least four separate incidents -- had been on desk duty since he shot and killed 16-year-old Kyle Tait.

Tait was a passenger in a stolen SUV at the time of the shooting, and Sweet has said he feared "significant bodily harm" because the driver was trying to use the vehicle as a weapon.

On Tuesday, Zapotichny said the criminal matter in the shooting case is still under review by Crown counsel.

Sweet was also being sued in separate actions by William Harris and Patricia de Laney, who alleged Sweet used excessive force. Harris's suit was settled out of court last June and de Laney's has not yet been resolved, Zapotichny said Tuesday.

In the incident that led to Tuesday's charges, Sweet is said to have assaulted a man after a chase that lasted about 10 minutes.

New Westminster Staff Sgt. Casey Dehaas said Sweet had begun to apprehend Anthony John Wesley White, who was allegedly driving a stolen car.

White, 30, allegedly crashed the stolen Toyota Matrix during the chase and was taken into custody. Dehaas said Sweet allegedly kicked White in the head once he was in custody and in handcuffs.

He could not say what injuries White suffered as a result.

Zapotichny said all aspects of the incident are being investigated, "including the manner in which the incident was first reported and responded to."

When asked to explain, Zapotichny said he only found out about the incident after an anonymous letter was sent to the police complaints commissioner, which he said happened two weeks after the alleged incident.

He said other officers were at the scene at the time.

Zapotichny said he did not remove Sweet from active duty immediately after receiving the letter -- and before the shooting of Tait-- because he did not have enough evidence to substantiate the complaint.

"The matter needed to be investigated and I was not in a position to prejudge the situation until the matter was fully investigated," he said, noting it was a "complex" investigation that took 18 months to complete.

Sweet could not be reached to comment on Tuesday.

Zapotichny, however, was quick to vouch for the veteran officer's character.

"He's a 16-year veteran who has served the community in a very professional and proud manner," Zapotichny said.

"He was certainly an officer that was committed to serving the community."

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RAP SHEET

- Oct. 31, 1999: Const. Todd Sweet allegedly uses excessive force against a lawyer while investigating a smoke bomb at the lawyer's house. A confidential out-of-court settlement was reached in the ensuing civil case last June.

- March 2005: Sweet is alleged to have used excessive force in arresting 70-year-old Patricia de Laney. The case is still before the courts.

- June 19, 2005: Sweet allegedly kicks handcuffed suspect Anthony White in the head after a car chase. He is now charged with assault.

- Aug. 23, 2005: Sweet fires three shots into a stolen SUV killing 16-year-old Kyle Tait. Sweet has said the SUV was being used as a weapon and that he feared "significant bodily harm." Crown counsel is reviewing the case.

[Illustration]
Colour Photo: Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun / NEW WESTMINSTER POLICE CHIEF DISCUSSES CASE AT NEWS CONFERENCE: New Westminster Police Chief Lorne Zapotichny announces criminal charge of assault causing bodily harm against Const. Todd Sweet who is suspended.; Colour Photo: Const. Todd Sweet.

Indexing (document details)

People: | Sweet, Todd,  Zapotichny, Lorne,  Tait, Kyle
Author(s): | Jonathan Fowlie
Document types: | Crime,  Chronology
Dateline: | NEW WESTMINSTER
Section: | WestCoast News
Publication title: | The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: Feb 7, 2007.  pg. B.1.Fro
Source type: | Newspaper
ISSN: | 08321299
ProQuest document ID: | 1213054411
Text Word Count | 761
Document URL: |

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