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A Toronto constable who opened fire at a suspect in a fleeing car in 2007 was charged yesterday with injuring the man.
The suspect filed a complaint with the Special Investigations Unit about 19 months following the incident, after being released from custody.
Toronto Police didn't report the incident to the SIU at the time.
Const. Boris Petkovic, formerly of 54 Division, faces one charge each of aggravated assault and of discharging his firearm with intent. The charges, filed by SIU investigators, stunned Toronto Police Association president Doug Corrigan.
"This officer was thoroughly investigated and ... they found nothing and cleared him of any wrongdoing," Corrigan said. He said he doesn't believe the man was hit.
'PLEADED GUILTY'
"From my point of view, when I find out that he turned himself in eight days later and then pleaded guilty in the courts ... that blows me away," he said. "It shocked the daylights out of us (yesterday) to find this is going on."
On Aug. 20, 2007, a luxury SUV was pulled over by police near Eglinton Ave. and Wynford Dr. at around 5 a.m. to investigate Phabien Collel Rhodius, then 21.
Rhodius was recognized by the officers who wanted to ensure he was fulfilling his release conditions, police said at the time.
As two officers approached the vehicle, the driver took off. At the time, police said one officer fired two shots. At the time, there was no indication Rhodius was injured.
He was charged with failing to comply, obstructing a police officer, attempted murder, assault with a weapon, assault to resist arrest, dangerous operation of a vehicle and failing to stop for police.
The SIU said in a prepared statement that when Rhodius was released from custody in March, he contacted the SIU and claimed he was injured, and a five-month investigation ensued.