Cop wasn’t targeted for discipline, hearing told

Investigating officer says Muirhead’s case not racially motivated

York Region police officer Dameian Muirhead wasn’t targeted for discipline, a detective told a racially charged disciplinary hearing Thursday.

Det. James McRobbie, whose investigation led to misconduct charges against Muirhead, 33, shrugged off questions that he targeted the eight-year veteran of the force, who is black.

“You decided that you wanted to teach Const. Muirhead a lesson?” asked Muirhead’s lawyer, Courtney Betty. “Not at all, sir,” McRobbie replied. Under often intense cross-examination, McRobbie admitted there was no substance to the accusation that Muirhead wrongly arrested Aurora landscaper Rheal Duguay in May 2011.

McRobbie testified that Duguay originally accused Muirhead of unlawfully arresting him. Duguay denied he had threatened the officer but McRobbie said the threat was confirmed through witness interviews.

“At the end of the investigation, it was deemed that the arrest was lawful,” McRobbie said. “It was identified that Mr. Duguay had actually threatened Const. Muirhead.”

Although Duguay’s allegation of wrongful arrest was dismissed, Muirhead still faces three misconduct charges stemming from a complaint by Duguay. One charge stems from Muirhead’s refusal to pick up Duguay’s leather coat when it fell to the ground off a motorcycle in the midst of an ugly altercation at a bush party.

Muirhead was subjected to repeated racial slurs by partygoers, including words to the effect of, “I would love to see that guy hanging from a tree.”

Muirhead said Duguay is not one of the men at the party who shouted racial taunts at him.

A dozen people came to support Muirhead at the hearing, held in an Aurora hotel conference room.

The hearing continues Friday.