Father in assault case removed from police role

A Toronto police officer has been removed from his position with the Professional Standards Unit following allegations he interfered with an investigation into his two sons being charged with severely beating a Black teen last year, according to Mayor John Tory.

Acomplaint filed to Ontario’s Office of the Independent Police Review Director by Dafonte Miller’s lawyer Julian Falconer in August alleged police attempted to protect Const. Michael Theriault and his brother Christian from criminal charges.

The complaint alleged Det. John Theriault repeatedly contacted Durham Regional Police to access information relating to the investigation into his sons Michael and Christian Theriault. It said John Theriault provided false information about injuries suffered by Christian “to aid in the concealment of the crimes” allegedly committed by his sons.

Michael and Christian Theriault were charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and public mischief in connection to Miller’s injuries, including damage to an eye so severe it will have to be surgically removed.

The public mischief charges are based on allegations the brothers misled investigators. According to court documents, the Special Investigations Unit alleged they “did with intent to mislead, cause a peace offer to enter upon or continue an investigation and thereby commit public mischief.”

John Theriault is a 30-year Toronto police veteran who worked in the professional standards unit, which deals with officer misconduct.

“My understanding is he is no longer in the Professional Standards Unit at this time. The rest has to unfold now in the investigation,” Tory told reporters on Tuesday. With files from Wendy Gillis, Jennifer Pagliaro and Peter Goffin