Toronto police officer charged with assault, suspended with pay

Toronto police say one of their own has been arrested and charged in connection to an assault investigation.

Police say around 5:15 a.m. on Thursday April 7, officers responded to reports of an assault in the area of Dundas Street West and Keele Street.

They say a 39-year-old man allegedly hit a woman in a dispute. Nobody was taken to hospital.

Police Constable Sameer Kara has been arrested and charged with assault.

At the time of the incident, police say Kara, a communications officer and 13-year member of the force, was not on duty.

Kara is set to appear in court on May 19.

Anyone who has information related to the incident is asked to contact police.

Kara has since been suspended with pay as per the Police Services Act, according to the service.

Toronto police confirmed with CityNews Kara previously faced sexual assault charges, along with two other officers, involving a colleague in 2015. The three members of the force were found not guilty in 2017 and Police Act charges were dropped late last year.