Toronto Police Officer Charged in Sexual Assault Investigation Involving Minor, Police Watchdog Says

A Toronto police officer has been charged with sexual assault, child luring, and other offences involving a girl under the age of 16 following an investigation by Ontario’s police watchdog.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said the investigation stemmed from allegations involving a female youth. The offences are alleged to have occurred in Toronto between September and December 2025, according to a news release.

The SIU is an independent civilian agency that investigates incidents involving police in Ontario that result in serious injury, death, allegations of sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm. It operates independently from police services across the province.

SIU Director Joseph Martino said there were reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed criminal offences against a female youth. The SIU said its director reviews evidence gathered during investigations to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges.

As a result of the investigation, Const. Parsa Hazeri is facing seven charges under the Criminal Code, including sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, transmitting sexually explicit material to a person under the age of 16, communicating with a person under the age of 16 for the purpose of facilitating an offence, breach of trust, and careless handling of a firearm.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

The SIU said Hazeri was arrested at its headquarters on the morning of June 4.

After charges are laid, matters proceed through the Ontario Court of Justice. An accused is entitled to a bail hearing, where a judge determines whether release is appropriate and under what conditions.

Following a bail hearing, Hazeri was released on conditions, including that he does not directly or indirectly contact the person affected.

Hazeri’s hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 17 at the Ontario Court of Justice at 10 Armoury Street in Toronto.

The SIU said it would not provide further comment on the investigation to ensure a fair trial.

The SIU typically closes several hundred cases each year involving incidents with police officers in Ontario, according to its most recent annual reporting. In the 2024–25 fiscal year, the agency closed 365 cases, a category that includes investigations carried over from previous years.

The watchdog said 18 officers were charged in 17 cases during that period, representing a small proportion of overall files, while the majority of investigations concluded without criminal charges being recommended. The SIU does not publish conviction statistics, as prosecutions proceed through the courts independently of the agency after charges are laid.