Warning: Some may find the following video disturbing.
A Guelph police officer who assaulted a teen as he was handcuffed to a hospital bed pleaded guilty to a professional misconduct charge Tuesday morning.
Constable Corey McArthur, an 18-year-veteran of the Guelph Police Service, entered the plea to discreditable conduct during a hearing at the Holiday Inn on Scottsdale Drive.
McArthur pleaded guilty to the criminal charge of assault for the 2016 incident, but at sentencing was given a conditional discharge, placed on probation for three years and ordered to do 240 hours of community service. That means he will have no criminal record if he stayed out of trouble for the duration of his probation.
The 18-year-old victim of the assault was on a medical hold at Guelph General Hospital at the time. He kicked McArthur in the mid-section and McArthur responded with a blow to the head area.
Hospital staff later reviewing the video reported the incident to police.
It was the third time McArthur has faced assault charges. The officer was found guilty in 2010 and was given an unconditional discharge. In 2014 he was charged with assault causing bodily harm, but that charge was later withdrawn.
At trial McArthur's lawyer showed that his client had been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of the on-duty death of a colleague who died in a car crash as she was responding to assist McArthur with a traffic stop.
The hearing is ongoing and this story will be updated.
