Police corruption trial: Officer denies playing ‘good cop’ while stripper beaten

Const. Steven Correia, shown leaving court on University Ave. in Toronto, testified in his defence at the drug squad corruption trial on Thursday.

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Peter Small Courts Bureau

 

A prosecutor has accused two former drug squad officers of “tuning up” a Montreal stripper when she refused to provide a statement about her cocaine trafficking.
Under cross-examination, Const. Steve Correia denied he was playing the “good cop” while Const. Joseph Miched, a fellow member of Team 3 of the Central Field Command drug squad, beat stripper Aida Fagundo in a police station 15 years ago.
“I am suggesting to you that you got ahold of PC Miched and the two of you proceeded to tune up Ms. Fagundo so she would produce evidence,” prosecutor Milan Rupic suggested Thursday.
“Absolutely not,” Correia replied.
“Mr. Miched hit her with a phone book,” Rupic said.
“Absolutely not,” said Correia.
Correia, 45, Miched, 53, their one-time boss John Schertzer, 54, and former fellow officers Raymond Pollard, 48, and Ned Maodus, 49, are being tried on charges of attempting to obstruct justice, theft, assault and extortion that allegedly occurred between 1997 and 2002.
The drug squad placed Fagundo under surveillance when she arrived on a flight landing at Pearson airport on Nov. 2, 1997.
Hours later, on a Scarborough street corner, they boxed in a taxi carrying her and two drug “mules,” one of whom carried five kilograms of cocaine in her backpack.
Fagundo has testified via video link from Spain, where she now lives, that drug squad officers snatched $10,000 from her purse, stole her $20,000 diamond earrings, and beat her in a police station. One of the officers also fondled her breasts, she testified.
Rupic accused Correia of telling Fagundo he knew she had come into Canada illegally to apply pressure on her during an interview, which Correia denied.
Correia pointed out that Fagundo testified that when she saw him she felt relieved.
“You were playing the role of the good cop,” Rupic charged.
“No, she said she was relieved,” Correia said.
Rupic charged that Correia made no note of making any effort to interview Fagundo because he was afraid Miched had gone too far in beating her, and that some injuries might show.
“Absolutely not,” Correia said.
The Ontario Superior Court trial continues before Justice Gladys Pardu.