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The Toronto police officer described as the “genesis” of a months-long corruption probe was denied bail again Wednesday in Toronto.
Lawyers for Const. Timothy Barnhardt asked for a Superior Court review of the decision to deny the cop bail soon after his arrest in early February. Justice Peter Bawden upheld the lower court’s decision and dismissed the application.
The judge’s reasons for his decision and details from the bail review hearing are protected under a routine publication ban aimed at ensuring Barnhardt’s right to a fair trial.
Barnhardt, 56, will remain in custody while facing 17 charges — the most of any of the seven Toronto cops and one retired officer arrested in connection to the York Regional Police investigation Project South.
“We’re disappointed,” said Barnhardt’s lawyer, Jason Dos Santos, outside the courthouse.
“We had put together what we thought was a good plan. Obviously his honour didn’t think it was good enough to release Mr. Barnhardt … we’re going to analyze this decision and decide what our next steps will be.”
The allegations against Barnhardt include trafficking police uniforms, supporting illegal cannabis dispensaries by accepting bribes in exchange for protecting against police investigation, and releasing confidential information to criminals, which police say helped facilitate targeted shootings.
Const. Timothy Barnhardt is facing a long list of charges in connection with allegedly assisting organized crime. (@10rcop/X)
In addition to the police officers, 20 civilians have been charged in connection with the sweeping probe that began last June after York police officers uncovered an alleged conspiracy to kill a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre.
None of the charges against Barnhardt and the others tied to Project South have been tested in court.
York investigators allege that Barnhardt accessed private information about the senior corrections officer and provided it to a civilian accused in the case, Brian Da Costa, who was then accused of releasing it to others charged in the murder plot.
Da Costa was granted a $1.5-million bail last month and was released on house arrest. The crown requested a review of that decision in Superior Court — a decision is expected to be issued next week.
Barnhart and five other officers charged in Project South are currently suspended without pay, according to a police spokesperson.