Police recruit in Durham charged with sexual assault and impersonating a cop

Published April 11, 2024 at 12:20 pm

Sex assault suspect was a Durham police recruit.

William Knight, 31, of Toronto, is charged with sexual assault, impersonating a police officer and various other offences. (Photo: Toronto Police)

A Durham Regional Police recruit is facing three counts of sexual assault in addition to child pornography and other charges after police say a man pretended to be a cop while setting up meetings at bars with underage victims.

Toronto Police said in a news release on Thursday a man described as a recruit at the Ontario Police College was arrested on April 5 and charged with numerous offences.

Investigators allege that between March 10 and March 31, a man used online applications — OME TV, Snapchat and other social media platforms — to “communicate with young persons” and set up in-person meetings that wound up at bars where he would buy them drinks, knowing they were underage.

Police believe the man “misrepresented himself as a police officer to gain the trust of his victims.”

In one case, police allege the man filmed one of his victims without their knowledge.

Toronto Police Internet Child Exploitation officers executed a number of search warrants in relation to the investigation, seizing various electronic devices.