Off-duty York regional officer sentenced after failing to remain at scene of collision
Posted June 5, 2023 3:47 pm.
Last Updated June 5, 2023 3:53 pm.
York Regional Police say one of its officers has been sentenced to an 18-month conditional sentence in connection with a 2019 fail-to-remain collision in Markham while off duty.
On September 29, 2019, authorities responded to a report just after 7:15 p.m. of a serious collision on Highway 7, near York Durham Line where a motorcycle had been struck and the vehicle had fled the scene. The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious, life-altering injuries.
Officers learned that a Nissan Pathfinder had collided with the motorcycle. Constable Nathan Coates drove the Nissan a few kilometres away, and once York police located the vehicle they arrested the off-duty officer.
Coates was sentenced to an 18-month conditional sentence on Monday, which includes nine months of house arrest, 100 hours of community service and a 30-month driving prohibition. He also must submit a DNA sample to the National DNA Data Bank.
In a release, York police said Coates had been a member of its force since 2005, assigned to Uniform Patrol out of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Community Substation.
He has been suspended without pay since his arrest. He is subject to additional charges under the Police Services Act.
