Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Peter Small

DRUG DEALER THREW UP BLOOD BEFORE ACCUSING POLICE OF BEATING HIM, COURT TOLD

A drug dealer was bleeding from his forehead and throwing up blood
before he alleged drug squad detectives "beat the s---" out of him,
according to a police officer.

Christopher Quigley was in a police station cell shortly after 4 a.m.
on May 1, 1998, complaining of sore ribs and difficulty breathing,
according to notes taken at the time by Const. Marc Lefebvre.

According to Lefebvre's memo book, portions of which he read out in
court Thursday, he saw a "use of force report" at the station that
described Quigley's injuries as simply a "bloody nose."

But Quigley asked to be taken to hospital and he was transported by
ambulance, with Lefebvre accompanying him.

At Sunnybrook hospital, the police officer noted, Quigley told a
nurse: "They beat the s--- out of me. That's what happened."

As the nurse examined Quigley, Lefebvre noticed welts on his lower
left side and rib area.

The prisoner was given seven stitches to his forehead.

Lefebvre testified he can't remember being called to 53 Division
police station, on Eglinton Ave. W. near Yonge St., 14 years ago to
transport the 32-year-old man from a cell to hospital.

But the police officer said he takes accurate notes.

Lefebvre was testifying at the Ontario Superior Court trial of John
Schertzer, 54, Steve Correia, 44, Raymond Pollard, 47, Ned Maodus, 48,
and Joseph Miched, 53.

The former Central Field Command drug squad officers collectively face
29 charges, laid in January 2004, including attempt to obstruct
justice, perjury, assault and extortion related their work between
1997 and 2002.

Quigley testified that drug squad officers brutally kicked, punched
and choked him unconscious while angrily demanding the whereabouts of
his drugs and money, and they then stole $31,000.

In other evidence Thursday, Quigley's former lawyer testified he was
shocked by how his client looked at his bail hearing shortly after the
incident.

"He was in obvious pain and discomfort in the prisoner's box," Bruce
Olmsted testified Thursday.

Quigley was charged with assaulting a police officer, possessing
stolen goods, trafficking in and possessing marijuana.

Under intense pressure from Quigley to get the matter resolved,
Olmsted said, he worked out a plea deal where his client could plead
guilty to just a pot possession charge and pay a $1,000 fine.

"He was very insistent that I get this deal done yesterday," Olmsted
added.

As part of the arrangement, police agreed to return property and money
they had seized.

"He wanted the money back yesterday," Olmsted said.

The trial continues Friday.
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