Montreal anti-gang cops charged with perjury, trading for sex

Two members of the Montreal police department's anti-gang squad are facing criminal charges after an internal investigation allegedthey lied to get search warrants and one of them traded for sexual favours.

At a news conference at police headquarters,Chief Philippe Pichetdescribed it as a dark day for the force, adding more officers could also soon be charged.

Faycal Djelidiis accused of a total of nine charges,while DavidChartrandis accused of four.

"No one is above the law and police officers are no exception," Pichetsaid.

Chartrand, 36, and Djelidi, 39,bothworked on multidisciplinary investigations and youth co-ordination in the Montreal police's south division.

Pichet

Theywere part of a squad that targeted street gangs, drugs and prostitution.

Both are veterans of the force.

Djelidihas been with the department for 16 years and rose to the rankof investigatorsix years ago.Chartrand has been a police officer for 11 years, and an investigator for the last three.

Pichetsaid theaccusations are related to the way the officers "controlled sources."

Police launched an internal investigation last December after irregularities were flagged, he said.

Thatinitiallyled to an administrative response, but no corrective action. It was only then that the police department's internal affairs divisionlaunched a criminal investigation, according toPichet.

The police chief said the actions of the arrested officers did not compromisethe security of informants or colleagues.

Arrest warrant lays out allegations

Both Chartrand and Djelidi areaccused ofperjury andattempt to obstruct justice, whileDjelidialso faces charges of solicitation,breach of trust andobtaining sexualservices for consideration.

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According to his arrest warrant, Djelidi "solicited" sexual services between May 30 and July 4, and "obtained" them on June 15.

He also encouragedChartrandto lie during a sworn declaration on June 10 in an attempt to get a search warrant.

A day or two later, Djelidi is said to haveapproached a fellow officer specializing in sexual exploitation to find out if he was under investigation. This is the basis of thebreach of trust charge.

In addition, heallegedlytried to interfere with an RCMP officer on June 21during an investigation at an apartment building in the north end ofMontreal.

Both officers have been suspended without pay.

'It's not a good day for us'

Pichetsaid twoother officers were also arrested, but refused to provide their names.

He also wouldn't say in what division of the force they workor what charges they could face.

The investigation is ongoing andPichetsaid there could still be more arrests.

"We have to follow some rules when we are police officers," he said.

"It's not a good day for us as a police department,butin one part it's just a little number of officers that are breaching the rules."

A spokesperson for Public Security Minister declined to comment, saying only that "no one is above the law."

The Montreal Police Brotherhood also declined a request for comment.