Pubdate: Mon, 30 Apr 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Peter Small

POLICE CORRUPTION TRIAL: JOHN SCHERTZER DENIES WRONGDOING ON WITNESS STAN

John Schertzer, the man who led a small group of drug squad detectives
accused of theft, extortion and attempting to obstruct justice, took
the witness stand at his trial Monday to deny all the charges against
him.

It was the first time the former detective has spoken in detail about
the charges he and four former fellow officers have faced for eight
years.

Schertzer headed Central Field Command drug squad, which investigated
street- and mid-level narcotics dealing in Toronto's core.

Dressed in a blue suit and tie over a crisp white shirt, he spoke in a
soft voice.

Earlier Monday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Gladys Pardu directed
that an acquittal be registered on five of 14 counts the officers face.

Schertzer, 54; Steven Correia, 45; Raymond Pollard, 48; Joseph Miched,
53; and Ned Maodus, 49, face various charges, laid in 2004, including
attempting to obstruct justice, assault perjury and extortion between
1997 and 2002.

Earlier in the trial, former marijuana dealer Christopher Quigley, 46,
alleged an angry Schertzer hit him in the face with an open hand in
1998, demanding where he kept his drugs and money, before two other
officers beat him over several hours.

He claimed Schertzer and Correia then seized $54,000 from Quigley's
mother's bank safety deposit box, but only returned $22,850.

The trial has also heard that Schertzer gave the order for his men to
box in a taxi being ridden by Montreal stripper Aida Fagundo and two
confederates on a Scarborough street in 1997, as they were trying to
deliver five kilograms of cocaine.

Fagundo, a Cuban-born Canadian now living in Spain testified, via
video link that Schertzer's team robbed her of $20,000 earrings and
$10,000 cash, as well as beating and fondling her.

Cocaine dealer Andy Ioakim, 55, claimed Schertzer's team stole drugs
and more than $100,000 from his home, then forced him to set up the
Fagundo drug deal so they could swoop in and steal the drugs.

A former couple testified Schertzer's team searched their Scarborough
apartment in 1998, but only produced a warrant afterward.
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