Bail hearing adjourned for senior Winnipeg officer accused of drug trafficking, sharing photo of dead woman

CBC

2 days ago

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A veteran Winnipeg officer charged after a lengthy police investigation unearthed allegations he trafficked illegal drugs, shared a photo of a dead woman and disclosed confidential information will for now remain in custody after his bail hearing was postponed Monday.
Const. Elston Bostock, who's been with the Winnipeg Police Service for more than 20 years, was charged last week with criminal offences including committing indignity to human remains, trafficking controlled substances, obstruction of justice and knowingly distributing an intimate image.
The latest charges came after Bostock was charged with a number of other offences alongside two other officers last year. Those charges against Bostock included breach of trust, theft under $5,000, unlawfully being in a dwelling and obstruction of a police officer.
While Bostock was released by police after his first arrest, they detained him following his latest on Aug. 6.
A bail hearing scheduled for Monday was adjourned at the request of Bostock's defence lawyer, Richard Wolson. Details disclosed in court can't be shared because of a publication ban.
The case is scheduled to be in court again on Aug 25.
During the Monday hearing, Bostock sat in the prisoner's box wearing a grey crew-neck sweatshirt and pants and appeared at times to make eye contact with people seated in the gallery, which was filled to capacity.
Those in attendance included family of the woman Bostock is accused of sharing an intimate photo of when she was found deceased in a home in May 2021. Police allege Bostock used his cellphone to take a photo of her, partially clothed, and later distributed the image to another officer.
The charges against Bostock stem from a 16-month-long investigation triggered after other members of the force reported concerns regarding breach of trust in early 2024.
Bostock was arrested months later, in November 2024, and released on an undertaking. Police continued their investigation with a warrant to search his phone and house, police said last week.
That investigation found five new incidents and led to 10 more charges against him, police said. The latest allegations against Bostock relate to on and-off duty incidents stretching back to 2016.
Details of allegations
Investigators suspect Bostock conducted about 84 illicit drug transactions between January 2016 and November 2024, police previously said. The drugs allegedly trafficked included cocaine, oxycodone and amphetamine.
Police said cocaine and psilocybin were also seized from Bostock's locker at the East District station, but added there's no indication drugs were sourced from Winnipeg police stores or that Bostock was involved in any highly organized drug trafficking.
WATCH | Winnipeg officer accused of taking intimate photo of dead woman, drug trafficking:
Winnipeg officer accused of taking intimate photo of dead woman, drug trafficking
4 days ago
He's also accused of obstructing justice by attempting to get traffic tickets issued to other people voided between February 2016 and August 2024.
The allegations against Bostock also include accessing confidential police information on Nov. 2 last year and giving it to unauthorized people.
Police said the information was provided to members of the public, and there's no criminal aspect to them receiving it, but declined to comment on why it was shared.
Police also allege Bostock stole ammunition and gave it to a friend on three occasions after he attended several firearm training days over a five-year period starting in September 2019.
Another officer, Const. Vernon Strutinsky, a 15-year member of the force, was also arrested last Wednesday, police said. Both he and Bostock are accused of breaking and entering to commit extortion, as well as breach of trust, while they were partnered.
Police say they went to the 300 block of Mountain Avenue on March 16, 2023, in a marked cruiser and in uniform, and entered a home, where they evicted the residents in the unit without authorization on behalf of someone Bostock knew.
Two other officers, Const. Jonathan Kiazyk and Const. Matthew Kadyniuk, were also charged with breach of trust and other offences alongside Bostock in November.
Police said they don't anticipate laying any more criminal charges against Bostock, "barring anything unforeseen coming to light."
The three other officers charged in the case were released from custody.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and all four officers are presumed innocent.
Bostock was granted the Governor General's Police Exemplary Service Award in 2024. A spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General said the award was revoked on June 13, and that it's amending its online list of honour recipients to reflect the cancellation.