Officer gets bail for a second time
BELLEVILLE - A Central Hastings OPP officer accused of a serious assault on a woman has been granted bail for the second time.
The officer, held since Sunday for breaching his original bail conditions set in May, was released into the custody of his sureties who were present in court for his bail Friday.
The officer cannot be identified under a court-imposed publication ban, nor can details be released about his relationship to the woman.
In court, he acknowledged the litany of restrictions meted out against him from the prisoner’s box before being granted a conditional release by Justice of the Peace Cathy Hickling.
“Don't breach,” warned Hickling. “I don't want to see you back in the courts again.”
His non-deposit bail bond was bumped up to $50,000 from $25,000. He must also abide by a number of restrictions including having no contact with the female, residing in Belleville with his two sureties and remaining in their company at all times.
He also cannot be within 300 metres of the woman, her place of residence or her place of employment and he's banned from having weapons and must attend anger management counselling.
In addition to the initial offences, the officer also stands charged with one count of criminal harassment and four charges of breach of a recognizance in connection with his weekend arrest.
The officer — who has been suspended from duty with pay for the past five months — was arrested in May and charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and mischief to property.
At that time, OPP reported members of its professional standards branch conducted an investigation into a domestic assault involving "an OPP officer in East Region."
The victim was treated in hospital for serious, non life-threatening injuries and was released several days later.
The officer's next court appearance is slated for Nov. 21 in Picton.
jason.miller@sunmedia.ca
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2012/10/19/ ... econd-time