Ex-cop abused position of power to sexually exploit St. Thomas teen, lawsuit alleges
A 25-year-old woman has launched a $2.25-million lawsuit against the former officer, St. Thomas police board
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A former St. Thomas police officer abused his position of authority to engage in a sexual relationship with a teen girl and wore his uniform during some of their sexual encounters, according to a new lawsuit.
A 25-year-old St. Thomas woman, who alleges she was 15 when she started a sexual relationship with then-Const. Garry Christiansen, has launched a $2.25-million lawsuit against the former officer and the St. Thomas police board.
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Many of the allegations contained in the 11-page statement of claim filed at the Hamilton courthouse were previously made public when Christiansen, 57 at the time, pleaded guilty to sexual interference in 2019 and was given a 30-month prison sentence.
Christiansen, who retired from the force shortly before his guilty plea, was charged in 2017 with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation and assault involving the underage girl. The other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
The complaint, 15 at the time, went to the St. Thomas police station on Jan. 8, 2016, to get a criminal record check and provided her personal information to Christiansen, who texted her the next day to say the background check was ready to be picked up, the statement of claim alleges.
The two exchanged texts messages about the youth police program and they met the next day at a coffee shop and again the following day at Christiansen’s house, where they kissed and he performed oral sex on her, the lawsuit alleges.
The two began to meet regularly and engaged in a one-year sexual relationship, the lawsuit alleges.
“(The complainant) and Mr. Christiansen would regularly engage in sexual intercourse while Mr. Christiansen was wearing his uniform,” the statement of claim alleges.
“The relationship between Mr. Christiansen and (the complainant) was acrimonious, and he would frequently yell at, berate, and insult her, and otherwise emotionally abuse her. On at least one occasion, Mr. Christiansen physically assaulted (the complainant) by choking her and pinning her up against a wall.”
Statements of claim and statements filed in defence include allegations not yet tested in court. Neither Christiansen nor St. Thomas police have filed statements of defence.
St. Thomas police Chief Marc Roskamp said he’s aware of the lawsuit.
“As with all lawsuit matters, it’s in the hands our legal representatives,” Roskamp said in a statement.
The woman’s lawsuit alleges Christiansen threatened to harm her if she told anyone about their relationship and used his power within the force to ensure she was selected for the youth policing program, allowing him exploit his relationship with her to gain influence over her.
The police board, the civilian body responsible for overseeing policing, failed to protect the complainant from Christiansen and provided him with the authority he used to a exploit a trusting relationship and “prey upon her vulnerability,” the lawsuit alleges.
As part of his sentence, Christiansen was given three years’ probation, ordered to submit a DNA sample and had his name added to the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years. He was also banned from owning weapons and being in a position of authority with minors.
Following Christiansen’s sentencing, the chief of police at the time acknowledged the case damaged the public’s view of the force.
“We understand the negative perception this incident may have created. It is disheartening for our members, and we want to assure the community that this is not a reflection of the men and women of the St. Thomas police service who work so hard every day to uphold the law and keep our community safe,” Chief Chris Herridge said.
The complainant’s lawsuit alleges she has suffered lasting physical and psychological injuries, including flashbacks, difficulties maintaining relationships and suicidal thoughts, and was deprived of a normal, healthy childhood and adolescence.
“The life of (the complainant) was fundamentally and forever changed by the above-noted behaviour and her ability to carry on a normal life has been extinguished or impaired,” the lawsuit alleges.
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