BROCKVILLE, Ont. – A Cornwall police officer has been given a conditional discharge after interfering with a Brockville police investigation during a traffic stop last year.
Const. Daniel Merpaw was convicted on one count of obstruction during a court appearance in Brockville, Ont. on March 2, 2017, Newswatch has learned.
The sentence handed down was three months probation, where Merpaw has to abide by certain court conditions.
According to records with the Brockville court, Merpaw has to pay a victim fine surcharge of $100. After three years, Merpaw can apply for an absolute discharge where the conviction will be purged from his criminal record.
Merpaw was arrested Aug. 2, 2016 after an investigation by Brockville officers into what was described as a traffic stop in May 2016.
At least one other person was arrested in the case.
Merpaw, described by the Cornwall police chief as a patrol officer with “several years” on the force, has been on desk duty since that time.
Brockville Det. Sgt. Tom Fournier declined to provide Newswatch with details of the case in order to protect the integrity of an upcoming Police Services Act hearing.
Cornwall Staff Sgt. Dan Maille, head of the professional standards bureau, told Newswatch a Police Services Act hearing will be proceeding on a charge of discreditable conduct but still needs to be scheduled.
Maille cited March Break vacation for some of the parties and legal counsel involved for a delay in setting a hearing date.