A Thunder Bay, Ont., courtroom erupted in applause after the city’s police chief, Jean-Paul Levesque, was acquitted of charges of breach of trust and attempting to obstruct justice.
Levesque's family members cheered after Justice Bonnie Warkentin handed down her decision Thursday after hearing from more than a dozen witnesses during six days of testimony in December.
Ontario Provincial Police charged Levesque, 53, last May, alleging he disclosed confidential information concerning the city's mayor, Keith Hobbs.
Hobbs, who was a police officer with the city for 34 years before entering politics in 2010, was charged two months later with extortion and obstruction of justice. His wife Marisa Hobbs was also charged.
The court heard testimony from several witnesses that Levesque allegedly informed Hobbs that he was the focus of an RCMP extortion investigation.
But on Thursday, Warkentin said the Crown had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Levesque intentionally tried to interfere with the investigation into Hobbs, saying he acted within his discretion as chief of police.
At the time that Levesque was charged, he was on medical leave. He was suspended after the charges were laid.
After leaving court Thursday, Levesque told reporters he felt "relieved and grateful," and looked forward to going back to work.
With a report from CTV Manitoba bureau chief Jill Macyshon
During the trial JP Levesque was credited for his honesty. A man with integrity. In her decision the judge said not one witness disputed that. That finding seemed crucial in establishing the fact that Police Chief didn't intend to obstruct justice. @CTVNews
— Jill Macyshon (@JillMacyshonCTV) January 25, 2018