An Ottawa cop accused of beating an airport cabbie last month will “absolutely” plead not guilty when the case goes to trial, the officer’s lawyer said yesterday.
Const. Shyldon Safruk was arrested and charged Tuesday with assault causing bodily harm after the Ontario Special Investigations Unit determined there was evidence of criminal activity in the May 11 altercation at an Ottawa airport parking lot.
Sami Aldoboni, a West-Way airport taxi driver, sustained a broken arm and finger in the alleged assault.
Bill Carroll, the lawyer representing the accused officer, said the way the incident has been portrayed in the media “is not what happened.” Carroll wouldn’t elaborate on the defence, other than to say the officer didn’t assault Aldoboni.
Safruk is “most anxious to get to court and get this sorted out,” Carroll said.
Aldoboni, 43, has said a Nissan X-Terra tried, but failed, to overtake his cab on the Airport Pkwy. and the SUV followed him to the parking lot. According to Aldoboni, the driver of the SUV shoved him to the ground. One witness, another cabbie, claims the alleged attacker flashed police identification during the altercation. Special investigators seized surveillance video of the melee.
Aldoboni said Tuesday he was “pleased” to hear about the charge.
He still has a cast and is looking forward to the middle of July, when he’s expected to have the cast removed and begin physiotherapy before eventually going back to work.
Chief Vern White and Insp. Mike Flanagan, the police force’s executive officer, met with taxi officials again Tuesday in an effort to safeguard the force’s relationship with city cabbies.
Flanagan said Safruk, who has been an officer for six years, will remain on administrative duties.
Safruk doesn’t carry a duty firearm and he doesn’t have a position that deals with the public. He had been working in the marine unit, but he won’t be part of the team this summer.
One reason Safruk hasn’t been suspended is because police officials don’t believe he would be ordered to resign if found guilty at a disciplinary hearing under the Police Services Act. Suspended officers are entitled to full pay.
“The public doesn’t have an appetite for an officer sitting at home collecting a full salary and benefits,” Flanagan said.
An internal investigation is ongoing. Flanagan said the SIU has asked Ottawa police not to interview witnesses until the criminal proceedings are done.
“We will continue with the investigation with some limitations,” Flanagan said.
Safruk was released from custody Tuesday on a promise to appear in court July 9. The Attorney General’s justice prosecutions branch, which prosecutes people involved in the justice system, is handling the criminal case.
