TORONTO -- Seven months after he was recognized as a cop of the month, a Toronto Police officer is now charged with sexually assaulting a man during a traffic stop.

The Special Investigations Unit was called in Sept. 8 after a complaint "of a sexual nature" was made against a Toronto Police officer, a press release issued by the province's police watchdog said yesterday.

The SIU was told that on Sept. 2, a 21-year-old man was stopped at Lawrence Ave. W. and Duckworth St., just east of Jane St., over alleged driving infractions.

"There was an interaction, and as a result, the man sustained injuries," the SIU said.

Const. Salameh Marji, who has been with the force for three years, was summoned yesterday is to appear in court Jan. 18 on charges of sexual assault and assault after SIU director Ian Scott found there were "reasonable grounds" to believe he committed the crimes.

Though Marji is stationed in downtown's 52 Division, he was assigned to the area of the incident as part of the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy, a program aimed at building relationships between police and troubled communities, police spokesman Mark Pugash said.

In May, Marji, who also goes by "Sam," was among 20 officers honoured by the Toronto Junior Board of Trade in 2008. Marji and Const. David Rubbini stopped a man going the wrong way on York St. on Jan. 11, 2008. When the man tried to drive away, Rubbini ordered him out of the car. The man grabbed Rubbini's pistol and fired a shot through the bottom of his holster.

TAMARA.CHERRY@SUNMEDIA.CA