EXCLUSIVE: Suicidal cop was target of internal theft, perjury investigation
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A Toronto cop who recently killed himself was a target of an internal investigation that culminated in theft and perjury charges for two fellow police officers, the Sun has learned.
Vadym Martsenyuk, who joined Toronto Police in 2008 and committed suicide late last month was among officers from 12 Division who busted a man in a Honda for drug and gun-related offences on Weston Rd. on May 23, 2017.
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The officers allegedly seized a quantity of cash from the suspect but kept a portion of the money for themselves, believed to be approximately $50,000.
Two of Martsenyuk’s co-workers, Constables Aseem Malhi and Richard White — both with 12 years of service — turned themselves in to TPS Professional Standards Unit on Wednesday.
They have jointly been charged with theft over $5,000 and obstruct justice, and individually charged with perjury.
Both suspended with pay, they’re scheduled to next appear at College Park Courts on Oct. 31.
The accused officers were involved in a bust of an alleged drug dealer after an investigation that started with a discarded purse containing cash, drugs and a debt list found at a nearby Food Basics grocery store in December 2016.
Officers pursued a female suspect who left the purse behind who led them to the male suspect vehicle five months later.
Court documents state officers found 2.57 kilograms of cocaine, 1.69 kg of methamphetamine, 113 grams of heroin, 8.7 kg of marijuana and four kilograms of hashish inside the suspect’s car, along with $130,000 in cash, six cell phones and a Ruger handgun with ammunition.
In February 2018, the officers testified at a preliminary inquiry against the suspect and it is alleged they provided false or misleading testimony.
Defence lawyer Kim Schofield brought surveillance video from a neighbouring business to professional standards investigators that captured the officers’ actions that night.
“I reported all of the officers at the arrest of my client to TPS, and I brought them evidence that had been previously suppressed,” said Schofield in an interview.
She argued that her client’s rights had been violated by an unjustifiable search, and the charges were stayed two months ago by federal drug prosecutors.
Her client maintained that no drugs “were in plain view” as the officers testified, which enabled them to search his vehicle without a warrant.
— With files by Kevin Connor
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