March 28, 2011
A rookie Toronto police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy and having an “inappropriate” sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy.
Brandon Fraser, 24, who has worked as a police officer for seven months at 42 Division in Scarborough, is facing one count each of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and sexual interference.
Fraser appeared in Old City Hall bail court Tuesday morning for a brief hearing, in which his case was put over until Wednesday.
He was wearing a brown t-shirt with the words “Object in this shirt is smarter than it appears,” and dark blue jeans.
“Yeah,” Fraser responded when asked if he understood his hearing would be postponed. He said nothing else and stood with his hands clasped in front of him.
The charges have nothing to do with his job as a police officer, said Fraser’s lawyer, Gary Clewley, who regularly represents members of the Toronto Police Association.
Clewley said Fraser knows the complainants, whom he met through the Internet, but Clewley would not comment any further on the nature of the relationships.
“They were friends,” he said, refusing to elaborate.
Clewley said he hopes to secure a surety Tuesday so Fraser can be released on bail Wednesday.
“Obviously he’s devastated,” Clewley said. “He’s in jail and he’s a police officer, so it’s not a very good situation.”
The assault on the 14-year-old boy is alleged to have occurred between January and May 2009. The relationship with the 16-year-old boy is alleged to have occurred between September 2010 and this month.
Police believe there may be more victims yet to come forward.