News Release

SIU Lays Charges Against Former Police Constable in Relation to Peterborough Sexual Assault Investigation

Case Number: 21-OSA-017   

Mississauga, ON (30 April, 2021) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has caused charges to be laid against a former constable with the previous Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service in relation to incidents that reportedly occurred in 2006.

On January 13, 2021, the SIU was contacted by the Peterborough Police Service regarding a complaint of alleged sexual assaults that had occurred against a woman by a police officer years earlier. The SIU commenced an investigation.

As a result of the SIU investigation, Christopher Robertson is facing three counts of sexual assault and one count of breach of trust by an official contrary to sections 271 and 122 of the Criminal Code, respectively.

Mr. Robertson is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 70 Simcoe Street in Peterborough on May 20, 2021. 

The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.  

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

  • consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
  • depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
  • publicly report the results of its investigations

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