 Const. Basil Odei and estranged wife Charmaine Cruz.
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TORONTO - A muscle-bound, veteran Durham cop who allegedly beat up two teen boys on Super Bowl Sunday also stands accused of assaulting his wife 18 months ago, the Sun has learned.
Const. Basil Odei, a police officer for more than 15 years who has competed in and won numerous body building competitions, was charged with two counts of assault after an incident on Feb. 7 with two 16-year-old boys outside a Whitby movie theatre.
It’s alleged Odei, who was off-duty at the time, was outside the AMC theatre complex on Consumers Rd. when he became involved in an argument with the two teens as they waited for rides home after attending a Super Bowl party at a nearby restaurant.
During the altercation the officer allegedly punched one boy and grabbed the other.
“One boy apparently suffered a bump above his eye, but he did not require any medical attention,” Sgt. Nancy van Rooy said. “The other boy had no visible injuries.”
Odei was charged with two counts of assault and released from custody on a promise to appear in court.
The Professional Standards Unit, Durham’s internal affairs, is investigating.
But few other details have been released.
In the wake of a story that ran days later, the Sun was flooded with calls and e-mails from readers who have had run-ins with the 41-year-old copper in Durham Region, several of whom claim to still be terrified of him years later.
Now the Sun has also confirmed Odei is also before the courts for an assault charge involving a domestic incident with his now estranged wife, Charmaine Cruz, that occurred in August of 2008.
He has made several court appearances for the prior charge and his trial is scheduled to resume in April.
But few other details are available about that incident.
Neither Odei nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.
“Basil always had a short temper and tendencies for violence,” alleges one source, who has known Odei for many years but asked not to be named.
Odei, who is suspended with pay as he awaits trial, stands only 5-foot-5. But his 19-inch biceps and 225-pound frame make him an intimidating-looking man.
Van Rooy was unable to say if Odei has been probed for any other allegations during his career.
However, several people who contacted the Sun claim to have filed complaints after witnessing Odei lose his temper first-hand.
But in every case, the PSU allegedly found there was not enough evidence to support charges.
“Even today, at 38 years old, if I saw him coming I’d ---- my pants,” said Elvis Mate, who claims he was roughed up badly eight years ago by Odei and another officer.
Mate claims he fell asleep in a taxi after celebrating his birthday in January of 1996.
The cabbie allegedly drove him to a police station where he met Odei and the officer and was subsequently beaten up.
“It was brutal,” Mate said.
He alleges he was hit in the head with handcuffs and punched in the face, suffering two gashes that needed stitches to close.
Lisa Johnston claims Odei berated her 14-year-old daughter about a year ago at the Pickering Town Centre.
When she tried to intervene and protect her child, Odei allegedly blasted her.
“I watched this guy go cuckoo,” Johnston alleged. “My daughter was terrified, so was I.”
Odei is scheduled to make his first appearance on his latest assault charges in an Oshawa court on March 22.
chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca
