An Ottawa police officer quit his post on Friday after being the subject of a sexual assault complaint.
Patroller Sundeep Singh had been suspended since February 2021, when the assault allegedly took place. He was in his fourth year with the Ottawa Police Service.
According to the facts presented to the court as reported by the ottawa citizenthe 19-year-old had been drinking at a friend’s apartment before deciding to take a two-hour walk home.
Not dressed for the weather, she quickly lost feeling in her feet and then began having thoughts of self-harm, according to the facts read in court. She called a crisis line and the agency directed police to her location. Singh was the first of four officers to arrive in separate patrol cars. They determined the woman was not suicidal, but needed treatment for frostbite and hypothermia, and the woman waited for an ambulance in Singh’s patrol car.
After going to the hospital and once her wounds had been dressed, the policeman offered to drive her home. She accepts. She came back in the same car and adopts a more charming tone towards the policeman. When they got home, Singh asked the woman for photos or videos and she handed the officer her cell phone, which contained nude photos. The agent added their contact information.
He then proceeded to touch her sexually at the woman’s “invitation”, according to the agreed statement, while the two remained seated in the squad car. Singh dropped the woman off at her house after about 30 minutes, then returned shortly after with her cellphone. Singh was invited to her room and they had sex. He left at 5:45 a.m.
The policeman admits to having made a lack of judgment. “It should have been obvious to Mr. Singh that the much younger complainant was very vulnerable that night and her judgment was impaired,” said investigator Peter Scrutton.
The charges were limited to breach of trust by the Ontario Court of Justice.