Hamilton officer faces more charges in connection with 2012 investigation
Posted August 22, 2017 2:34 pm.
Last Updated August 22, 2017 10:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Hamilton police officer is facing a slew of charges, including trafficking drugs and guns, in connection with a 2012 criminal investigation.
Investigators said new information was obtained, which has led to new charges being laid against Const. Craig Ruthowsky.
Ruthowsky had previously been a member of the Hamilton police guns and gangs squad. He has been suspended with pay since 2012.
Police said the new charges relate to offences that allegedly took place between 2009 and 2012 in the City of Hamilton.
On Tuesday, Ruthowsky was charged with the following offences:
- Bribery – Sec. 120(b) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Breach of Trust – Sec. 122 – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Breach of Trust – Sec. 122 – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Obstruct Justice – Sec. 139(2) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Public Mischief – Sec. 140(1)(a) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Weapon trafficking – Sec. 99 – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Fraud under five thousand dollars – Sec. 380(1) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence – Sec. 465(1)(c) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Trafficking marihuana – Sec. 5(1) – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- Perjury – Sec. 131(1) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence – Sec. 465(1)(c) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Weapon trafficking – Sec. 99 – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Robbery – Sec. 344(1) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Trafficking cocaine – Sec. 5(1) – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- Obstruct Justice – Sec. 139(2) – Criminal Code of Canada;
- Trafficking cocaine – Sec. 5(1) – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
In 2015, Ruthowsky was arrested in connection with raids conducted across the GTA targeting the notorious “Monstarz” street gang.
The Toronto police guns and gangs unit executed more than 50 search warrants in Toronto, Peel, Halton, Hamilton, Barrie, Bradford, Durham and St. Catharines as part of an operation dubbed “Project Pharaoh.”
Ruthowsky was charged with corruptly accepting monies, attempting to obstruct justice, trafficking cocaine and criminal breach of trust.