Hamilton cop Craig Ruthowsky, charged in gang raids, has bail hearing

A Hamilton Police officer charged as part ofa series of gang raids across the GTHA will remain in custody at least one more day, with his bail hearing set to continue Tuesday.

Project Pharaoh executed 50 search warrants at dawnThursday, collecting 45 people who are facing a total of 379 charges.Hamilton officerCraigRuthowskywas one of those arrested, with Toronto police alleging he participated in the activities of a criminal organization.

Ruthowsky, 41, appeared at a Toronto courthouse Mondaywearing a red shirt and grey sweatpants, after spending the weekend in jail. He isattempting to getbail on four charges, including:

• Breach of trust.
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable (traffic cocaine).
• Participate in activities of a criminal organization.
• Commission of an indictable offence for a criminal organization.

The details of the bail court hearing are under a publication ban. The matter was not resolvedMonday, and will continue to be heard in the Finch courthouseon Tuesday.

• Craig Ruthowsky, Hamilton cop, arrested during Project Pharaoh gang raids

Ruthowsky's family, including his wife Christine, also aHamilton Police officer, were at the courthouse but declined to speak with reporters.

Well supported

Bernard Cummins, counsel for the accused Ruthowsky, said that while there are "better places" for the accused officer to spend a night rather than in jail, his client will be fine.

"He's doing very well, he's resilient and strong," Cummins said outside of the courthouse. "My client is strong, I believe in him "I'm not concerned about what the police allege."

"We have many family members here," Cummins said. "I can tell you that my client is well supported."

Cummins did not elaborate any further about the alleged offences, or Ruthowsky's ongoing Police Act charges.

Crown counsel John Pollard declined to comment because of the publication ban.

The Project Pharaoh arrests were part of a year-and-a-half longinvestigation into the Toronto gang, the Monstarz.
Police seized, in total, 33kilograms of cocaine, $196,000 Canadian and $18,000 Americanin cash and14firearms.

The total street value of the drugs seized is about $3.8 million.

Ruthowskypreviously served on Hamilton'sguns and gangs unit. Thechargesagainst Ruthowskystem from allegations arising while he was suspended with pay for unrelated charges laid under the Ontario Police Act, laid in June 2012.

According to the Hamilton Spectator, the originaland unrelated police act allegations againstRuthowsky involve leaking confidential information to an informant.