Barrie police officer pleads guilty to assault charge
A Barrie Police constable charged with assaulting a man who had ridden a skateboard in downtown Barrie during his arrest has pleaded guilty.
Barrie Police were made aware of an incident involving Constable Jason Stamp on February 4, 2021.
Then-Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood requested the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police to conduct an independent investigation.
On April 29, 2021, the OPP laid charges, including assault and assault with a weapon against Stamp.
Stamp resigned from the Barrie Police Service on Friday and is no longer a serving officer.
"He is certainly relieved that this long, difficult process is over, and he's got some healing to do. He's looking forward to that and the next chapter," said Stamp's lawyer David Butt.
Stamp pleaded guilty, in a Barrie courtroom Monday, to a violent arrest caught on camera February 4, 2021, in downtown Barrie.
In a joint submission, the Crown, Frank Giordano, and Stamp's lawyer, David Butt, agreed to the facts of the case as part of Stamp's plea deal presented to Justice Cynthia Johnston.
The court heard the Crown describe specific events leading up to the arrest involving a young man named Skyler Kent, whom Stamp witnessed skateboarding through the Dunlop Street intersection before the confrontation turned physical.
Stamp was seen in several videos played for the court approaching and speaking with Kent.
The court heard Skyler Kent was issued a ticket for causing a disturbance and heard Kent use several expletives toward the officer while questioning being pulled over.
During the initial interaction, Kent was seen waiting on the sidewalk for about 20 minutes.
"After I left with the ticket he put the lights on again. I tried to keep going because I figured he can't pull me over twice in a row like that," said Kent in February 2021.
Stamp then pursued Kent in his police vehicle and tried to get Kent into his vehicle and then to the ground to place him under arrest.
Following a brief struggle, Stamp was captured on camera, grabbing Kent by the head while Kent yelled and tried to break free.
"There was no part of me that was trying to hit him or hurt him. I just didn't understand why I was being arrested for something that was a traffic violation," said Kent.
Stamp's lawyer said Kent has since been charged with uttering death threats against Stamp; he called Kent an extremely angry young man with his own apparent mental health challenges.
Defence lawyer David Butt called Skyler Kent and Jason Stamp's respective mental health issues as "nitro and glycerin coming together."
"There was no need for that level of force," said Kent.
"Our officers are held to the highest standards of professionalism and conduct in carrying out their duties," said Barrie's new chief of police, Rich Johnston, in a media release. "We share the community's concern when any police officer is involved in a situation that negatively impacts the public trust and thank everyone for their patience as this case made its way through the justice system."
In her decision agreeing with the joint submission, the judge sentenced Stamp to a six-month conditional sentence, including three months of house arrest, calling Stamp's behaviour appalling and abhorrent.
The judge added that it was a "gross breach of his duty as a police officer and that duty is to protect the community."
As part of his sentence, Stamp is not to communicate with Skyler Kent or be within 100 metres of him.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.