Seven Toronto police officers headed directly to trial in Project South corruption probe
Crown lawyers have decided to proceed by direct indictment in seven police corruption cases, skipping the preliminary inquiry stage. The cases are expected to appear in Superior Court on July 22.
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Seven of eight Toronto police officers charged in the Project South corruption and organized crime investigation will proceed directly to trial in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice, the Crown announced Wednesday.
Crown lawyers have decided to proceed by direct indictment in those cases, bypassing the preliminary inquiry stage that typically determines whether prosecutors have enough evidence to move forward. The decision also applies to six civilians charged in the probe.
The affected officers are Const. Timothy Barnhardt, Sgt. Robert Black, Sgt. Carl Grellette, Const. Saurabjit Bedi, Const. Elias Mouawad, Const. John Madeley Jr., and retired Const. John Madeley Sr. Const. Derek McCormick's case remains in Ontario Court of Justice, with his next appearance set for July 14.
The 13 accused impacted by the Crown's decision will first appear in Superior Court on July 22. The officers are all suspended without pay. Charges include breach of trust, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to accept bribes.
Defence lawyer Calvin Barry said direct indictment typically speeds up trials. "The public wants to see things adjudicated on their merits and not these delays and having to wait years and years," he said.
Project South began in June 2025 when York Regional Police thwarted an alleged plot to kill a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre.
