Another Ottawa Police Special Constable has testified in front of an Ontario Superior Court judge Monday in the case of a Sgt. Steven Desjourdy, an Ottawa police officer who pleaded not guilty in the sexual assault of a female under their custody in 2008.
Special Constable Melanie Morris is seen in the controversial cellblock video performing "knee strikes" on a female prisoner.
"I noticed the right hand, a dangling handcuff…that’s very dangerous…it can turn into a swinging weapon,” said Morris in court. "I noticed a lunge coming towards my partner. I controlled her head…I felt as though a spit or bite was coming to me.”
That’s when Desjourdy cut off the woman’s shirt and bra. Those actions have put him on trial for sexual assault allegations.
Morris was then asked if she knew why Desjourdy was using scissors to cut off the woman’s shirt and bra. She said she didn’t recall but remembered telling the officers that the woman had not been fully searched and that it wasn’t safe for her to be lodged in a cell.
Desjourdy was charged by the independent Special Investigations Unit in March 2011.
The case has put prisoner treatment while in Ottawa police custody under intense public scrutiny.
Morris admitted on the stand to conducting an “unauthorized” strip search on the woman in front of the male officers.
Morris added when she put her hands down the prisoners pants to check for weapons around her waistband, she said, “I didn’t qualify that to be a strip search.”
After reviewing police policy the crown said “You know that does qualify as a strip search.”
Morris replied “Yes.”
Morris is expected to testify for the next few days.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Catherine Lathem.
