A Toronto police officer has pleaded guilty to impaired driving and flight from police, charges that stem from an “on-duty” incident that occurred back in July 2024, CP24 has learned.
Det.-Const. Brian Sukhram, a plainclothes officer with the drug squad, was arrested at around 2 a.m. on July 3, 2024, in the area of Hurontario Street and Courtney Park Drive in Mississauga.
According to the agreed statement of facts obtained by CP24, Sukhram had assisted with a search warrant and started to consume alcohol after he returned to the drug squad office.
After buying pizza for his team and consuming even more alcohol, the document reveals that he left to go home and drove into a construction site, significantly damaging his vehicle.
“He panicked and left the scene. He was impaired owing to the consumption of alcohol,” the statement of facts states.
Once in Peel Region, an ambulance driver observed him and his “erratic” driving and alerted police.
The documents stated that police attempted a tandem stop, but Sukhram drove away.
“Thereafter, he drove in an erratic manner, for a while driving the wrong way and through two red lights, without stopping,” the document states, adding that there were not many pedestrians or vehicles on the road.
“Finally, a number of police cars were able to box him in, but not before officer Sukhram made contact with two police cars, causing damage to them and causing minor injuries to some of the police officers.”
Police said at the time that multiple cruisers were also damaged.
The agreed statement of facts states that Sukhram’s blood alcohol readings were 180 milligrams.
Sukhram was charged with one count each of dangerous operation, failure to stop after an accident, flight from a peace officer, operation while impaired, operation while impaired, as well as possession of methamphetamines for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
On Friday, CP24 learned that the officer has now pleaded guilty to two of those charges. The drug-related charges will be dealt with separately at a later date, his lawyer told CP24.
Gary Clewley, the lawyer representing Sukhram, told CP24’s Beatrice Vaisman that the Crown has previously stated that she will be seeking jail time.
“Obviously, he is concerned, but it is up to the judge,” Clewley told CP24.
Toronto police previously told CP24 that Sukhram is their first officer to be suspended without pay under the new Community Safety and Policing Act, which came into effect in 2024.
Sukhram has served Toronto police for more than 15 years and has been a member of the drug squad for more than five years.
The agreed statement of facts states that Sukhram had been working undercover for the drug squad and participated in 200 drug take-downs and search warrants.
“His job became his life. He turned to alcohol to deal with the stress of his job,” the documents read, adding that he sought the services of a psychotherapist. “He sought a way out of his work-life imbalance, but high turn-over and short staffing resulted in increased responsibilities.”
The case will return to court on June 12.
