Disgraced former Hamilton cop will stand trial on more corruption charges

A former Hamilton police officer who a judge once said used his badge "as an ATM" in a pay-for-protection scheme with drug dealers will stand trial on a new set of charges.

Craig Ruthowsky is currently serving a 12-year, six-month sentence in a federal penitentiary. After a preliminary inquiry, a court has ruled that he will stand trial on a second set of corruption-related charges.

The charges stem from a Hamilton police investigation separate from the one that led to his first trial, linked to events that took place between 2009 and 2012.

He was originally charged with:

• Bribery
• Two counts of breach of trust
• Two counts of obstructing justice
• Public mischief
• Weapons trafficking
• Fraud under $5,000
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
• Trafficking marijuana
• Perjury
• Robbery
• Two counts of trafficking cocaine

It is unclear which of those charges the Crown is officially moving forward on.

Ruthowsky's first appearance in Superior Court on those charges is set for March 5 in Toronto. A trial date has not yet been set.

Ruthowsky was arrested after being caught on police wiretaps as part of a massive Toronto police guns and gangs investigation called "Project Pharaoh."

His first trial was held last year.

The jury heard from the trio of drug dealers but also from police officers from jurisdictions like Hamilton and Toronto, who testified about police practices and procedures, as well as their interactions with Ruthowsky.