Cop testifies he used reasonable force
Posted By Tracy McLaughlin
Posted 2 months ago
A woman whose facial bones were broken during an arrest was "ranting and raving," erratically as she tried to resist arrest, a Barrie police officer insisted, Thursday.
Det. Don Moore, 39, of Barrie, is charged with assault causing bodily harm after a prostitute he arrested ended up being taken to hospital with a fractured jaw, fractured eye socket, and bruises to her hip and shin, May 16, 2008.
On the witness stand, Moore admitted he had to use some force to try to get the woman he had just arrested into his cruiser, but he insisted it was "reasonable" force.
Earlier in the trial the alleged victim, Melanie Culford, 35, testified Moore cuffed her hands behind her back then slammed her face against the door frame of his cruiser.
She admitted she is a crack cocaine addict and that she often depends on prostitution as a means to make income to pay for her drug habit.
Court heard Culford was arrested on Maple Street, which is a known area for prostitution.
Moore testified he suspected she was involved in illegal activity so questioned her and discovered there was a warrant out for her arrest.
"She just snapped. She became upset, she was ranting and raving," said Moore. "Ms. Culford is not a small girl – she's tall and has some girth to her so I had to use some force to get her into the cruiser."
"Was it gentle force?" asked his lawyer, Leo Kinahan.
"No, it wasn't gentle," said the officer. "I had to use some force … I had my hand on the back of her and she had her foot on the car – she didn't want to get into that cruiser."
During the struggle, Moore admitted that at some point Culford's face might have hit or been pinned against the door frame."
But in cross-examination, Crown attorney Melan Rupic questioned why Moore, or his assisting officer, did not make note of the possibility of any injury to the booking officer at the police station, even though their prisoner was weeping and asking to be taken to the hospital.
Both officers testified they thought Culford was "exaggerating" when she complained her jaw and teeth hurt.
Several hours later, she was taken to hospital where a CT showed her injuries.
The trial continues Dec. 15.
