An Ottawa police officer was on probation for harassing a woman when he was charged Saturday in a similar case involving another woman, QMI Agency has learned.

It is alleged Const. Allen Percival began persistently calling, stalking and confronting a woman after she had broken up with him. The woman called police, who said they acted immediately.

Percival, 43, is charged with three counts of criminal harassment for incidents that happened between Nov. 1, 2009 and Feb. 5 of this year. He was also charged for breaking probation.

Police said the incidents happened when the community policing officer was off-duty.

Additional details of the relationship and the previous charges were not available.

Percival works in uniform in Hintonburg and in 2008 received a letter of commendation for helping the homeless.

Percival is to appear in court Sunday morning after spending the night in a jail cell at the Elgin St. police headquarters.

Police sources said the officer, who has achieved a rank of a first-class constable over his approximate decade as a police officer, was not given any special treatment because he is one of their own.

He made a brief court appearance Saturday, but the case was put over to Sunday to allow time for an out-of-town judge to hear the show cause hearing.

The internal affairs unit is also investigating the matter and said charges may be laid under the Police Services Act.

The officer has been suspended with “strict” conditions pending the outcome of the criminal charges. He’ll continue to receive his salary.

kenneth.jackson@sunmedia.ca