Pubdate: Thu, 10 May 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: OFFICER DENIES PLAYING 'GOOD COP' WHILE
PRISONERS BEATEN

A Toronto police constable has rejected a suggestion he played "good
cop" while other drug squad officers beat up traffickers in a police
station 14 years ago.

Under heated cross-examination Thursday, Steven Correia denied
abetting officers assaulting Montreal stripper Aida Fagundo in 1997 or
pot dealer Christopher Quigley the following year.

Prosecutor Milan Rupic accused the veteran officer of standing by
while fellow drug squad members Ned Maodus and Richard Benoit thrice
entered a police interview room and beat, extorted and threatened
Quigley, demanding to know where he hid his drug money.

"None of that's true," Correia told a jury at his cop corruption
trial.

Correia, 45, Miched, 53, their one-time boss John Schertzer, 54, and
former colleagues Raymond Pollard, 48, and Ned Maodus, 49, are on
trial for attempting to obstruct justice, theft, assault and extortion
that allegedly occurred between 1997 and 2002.

Rupic noted that Quigley suffered a gash to his forehead, a swollen
face, a welt on his abdomen, and cracked vertebrae.

"You could see the gash on his forehead," Rupic alleged. "There was
blood everywhere: on his face, on his T-shirt and on the floor. And he
was moaning in pain."

Correia denied noticing any serious injuries, adding that Quigley
refused medical attention.

"You came to Quigley, threw some paper towels at him and said words to
the effect of, 'You better tell them what they are looking for or
it'll go on all night,'" Rupic suggested. "You said that in your role
as the good cop."

Correia flatly denied this.

He also rejected Rupic's accusation that he and Schertzer helped
themselves to some $31,000 of the $54,000 Quigley stashed in a bank
safety deposit box.

Rupic also suggested Correia stood by and threatened Fagundo, a
Cuban-born stripper and cocaine trafficker, while Miched beat her with
a telephone book.

"The two of you proceeded to tune up Ms Fagundo so she would produce
evidence," Rupic charged.

"Absolutely not," Correia replied.

Fagundo has testified that drug squad officers snatched $10,000 from
her purse, stole her $20,000 diamond earrings, and beat her. One of
the officers fondled her breasts, she said.

Rupic accused Correia of pressuring Fagundo by saying he knew she had
entered Canada illegally.

Correia disagreed, pointing out that Fagundo testified that when she
saw him she felt relieved.

"You were playing the role of the good cop," Rupic
suggested.

"No, she said she was relieved," Correia replied.

The Ontario Superior Court trial continues before Justice Gladys
Pardu.
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