3 off-duty Toronto police officers facing ‘serious’ charges in Spain
Posted May 18, 2026 12:08 pm.
Last Updated May 19, 2026 10:04 am.
Three off-duty Toronto cops are facing “serious” charges in Spain, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) has confirmed.
“The officers were on vacation and were not travelling in any official capacity,” a TPS spokesperson told CityNews after local media reports emerged claiming that at least one of the off-duty officers sexually assaulted and beat a sex worker in Barcelona.
“On arrival in Canada, one officer was suspended from duty as authorized by the Chief of Police in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA),” a spokesperson added. “The two other officers will also be suspended upon their return to Canada in the coming days.”
In a separate statement, the Toronto Police Association (TPA) said they are aware of the incident and the charges.
“Given these charges relate to an off-duty incident, the Toronto Police Association has no further comment,” they said.
The Mossos d’Esquadra police force tells CityNews the alleged incident occurred on May 13 in the Ciutat Vella district. One suspect who is accused of sexual assault and injury was “brought before the authorities” on May 15. A charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer against the second suspect was dropped. The third suspect was arrested on May 15 in Palma de Mallorca but the local police didn’t say what charges he is facing.
Shelley Carroll, Chair of the Toronto Police Service Board called the reports “serious and troubling.”
“The people of Toronto expect police officers to uphold the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty. To maintain public trust, these matters must be dealt with swiftly and seriously by the Toronto Police Service,” she said in a statement.
“At a time when public confidence must be continually reinforced, people also need to see visible leadership and a clear commitment to strengthening the culture and standards of the Service. I expect the Chief and Service leadership to demonstrate the actions necessary to maintain the trust the public places in the Service.”
Neither TPS or TPA provided any further details or comments about the incident that led to the charges.
