A professional disciplinary hearing for the Guelph Police officer found guilty of assaulting a teenager handcuffed to a hospital bed will continue as his defence asked for time to review the prosecution’s evidence in the case.
Cst. Corey McArthur is facing one count of discreditable conduct under the police services act after he pleaded guilty to a 2016 assault in a criminal trial that concluded in September.
McArthur made a brief appearance before hearing officer Terence Kelly at an arraignment hearing Wednesday at the Holiday Inn in Guelph. Now retired, Kelly once served as deputy chief of York Regional Police Service.
McArthur’s counsel, Joseph Markson, said his client was reserving a plea as defence needed time to look over the evidence in the case disclosed by prosecutors.
Markson and service prosecutor Lynda Bordeleau agreed to an Aug. 8, 2019 telephone conference to discuss next steps.
If a guilty plea is made in that August phone call, the process will conclude with sentencing, which could include a reprimand or dismissal.
If a not guilty plea is made, the process will continue at a to-be-determined date.
McArthur was called to Guelph General Hospital on Sept. 19, 2016 regarding a 17-year-old male who was threatening to harm himself.
When McArthur and the other officer pinned the victim's head to the bed with their hands, the victim said "don't choke me," then hit McArthur in the mid-section with his knee.
McArthur responded with an elbow slam to the victim's upper body, which was captured on security footage and later released by police.
The victim's identity is protected by a court order.
After pleading guilty in the Sept. 14 criminal trial, McArthur was placed on a three-year probation and ordered to do 240 hours of community service. As a result, McArthur does not have a criminal record.
McArthur was diagnosed with PTSD following the 2016 assault that landed him in court.
McArthur faced assault charges on two other occasions, dating to 2010 and 2014. The current hearing is only considering his 2016 assault.
He was found guilty in 2010 and given an unconditional discharge and in 2014 McArthur was charged with assault causing bodily harm, charge that was later withdrawn.
