Toronto cop charged with sex assault also charged for 'unwanted' sexual relations on domestic call: documents
A Toronto police officer charged with sexual assault and breach of trust by Ontario's police watchdog was charged with misconduct for "unwanted and inappropriate sexual relations" on a domestic assault call that allegedly took place the same day.
On Friday, the Special Investigations Unit said it had reasonable grounds to believe that Const. Ramdial Lokenath, who has 14 years of service with the force, committed criminal offences against a woman on May 19, 2022, leading them to charge him with sexual assault and breach of trust.
Police tribunal documents obtained by CBC News indicate Lokenath, of 41 Division, was charged with four misconduct offences by the police tribunal for "inappropriate sexual conduct" and "unwanted and inappropriate sexual relations" during a domestic assault call the same day.
The tribunal is a quasi-judicial forum where the police investigate allegations of serious breaches of its code of conduct and the Police Services Act.
It's unclear if the charges by the SIU and misconduct charges stem from the same alleged incident.
When asked if the SIU charge had to do with the incident described in the tribunal documents, the SIU said it would not provide further comment as the matter is before the courts. Toronto police also did not confirm if the charges were linked. Lokenath, will appear in court later this month, the agency said in a news release.
Officer used position for 'private advantage': documents
According to the tribunal documents, on May 19, Lokenath and a partner went to an apartment in Toronto for a reported domestic assault and arrested a man.
While his partner was in the patrol car with the suspect, Lokenath returned to the apartment to take the statement of the woman who reported the assault. It's then that the documents say he allegedly engaged in "inappropriate sexual conduct" with the woman.
The documents allege Lokenath turned off the video on his body camera and muted the audio — for which there was no explanation in his notebook.
Later that day while off-duty, Lokenath went back to the apartment and "engaged in unwanted and inappropriate sexual relations" with the same woman, the documents say. Lokenath also allegedly suggested he could "influence the charges facing her husband."
"In so doing, you improperly used your character and position as a member of the service for private advantage," the documents say.
Alleged domestic assault of wife
Beyond those four misconduct charges, Lokenath was also charged with one count of misconduct for allegedly assaulting his wife on Oct. 19, 2022.
Tribunal documents say the two were at home in Durham Region, when she called local police to report a domestic assault. Officers were told Lokenath physically assaulted his wife and injured her lip and left leg, the documents say.
Documents say she was treated at Port Perry Hospital for her injuries. Durham police arrested Lokenath and released him on an undertaking with several conditions.
CBC Toronto could not confirm if Lokenath faced criminal charges in relation to the alleged domestic assault.
Lokenath was notified of all of the five misconduct charges all at once in late 2022, according to the documents. Toronto police say the misconduct investigations have been adjourned until Lokenath's criminal charges have been dealt with.
As per the Police Services Act, Lokenath has been suspended with pay, TPS spokesperson Stephanie Sayer told CBC News.
According to the province's public salary disclosure list, a Cost. Ramdial Lokenath earned $159,465 in 2022.
