Guelph police constable’s penalty hearing delayed

A Guelph Police Service officer who assaulted a teen lying in a hospital bed will have to wait a little longer to find out his fate. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk expla

A disgraced Guelph Police Service constable’s fate with the organization remains unclear more than a year after his second penalty hearing began.

Const. Corey McArthur assaulted a teenager at Guelph General Hospital in September 2016 while the 17-year-old boy was handcuffed to a bed. The teen had been acting erratically after using crystal methamphetamine and cameras captured footage of him kneeing McArthur in the chest or stomach. In retaliation, McArthur elbowed the teen, causing or aggravating an injury. The boy had a 3.5 centimetre cut under his eye, bruising and swelling.

McArthur was initially charged with assault causing bodily harm, but he ultimately pleaded guilty to a criminal assault charge in September 2018. He was given a conditional discharge with three years maximum probation and 240 hours of community service.

The judge for the case said that an undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) played a role in McArthur’s actions and caused him to overact and use excessive force.

In 2013, Guelph Police Service Const. Jennifer Kovach was killed on the way to McArthur’s call for backup. Icy road conditions caused a collision between Kovach’s car and a Guelph bus. Another factor in the judge’s decision was McArthur’s decision to seek treatment during his two-year absence from the police force.

• TIMELINE: Corey McArthur’s troubled past with the Guelph Police Service

In October 2022, a police service hearing was held to determine if McArthur should be reprimanded or dismissed from the Guelph Police Service.

Testimony revealed supervisors spoke to McArthur in 2007 about excessive use of force after a “number” of complaints. McArthur was told he must resign from the force within seven days or risk being fired.

However, McArthur successfully appealed the decision, arguing he should be demoted instead of dismissed. The Ontario Civilian Police Commission determined that, among other things, the hearing officer did not give enough consideration to McArthur’s PTSD.

In July 2024, McArthur pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct for a second time and another penalty hearing began. McArthur’s lawyer said he had gone through extensive counselling and was able to return to work as an officer.

The Guelph Police Service has said they want to dismiss McArthur for the incident at the hospital.

That hearing was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, however that plan abruptly changed on Tuesday due to an ‘unforeseen emergency.’ Instead, the hearing will resume next Wednesday.