Drug dealer says he bought cocaine press from cop at Hamilton police building

A drug dealer who once operated in Hamilton testified in court Thursday that he bought a massive cocaine press from police officer Craig Ruthowsky at an undercover police location.

Nigel Dheilly-Mattiuzzi, 30, took to the witness box Thursday afternoon at Ruthowsky's trial. The veteran Hamilton cop is accused of selling police secrets and protection in exchange for $20,000 monthly payments from a cadre of drug dealers.

Ruthowsky, 44, has pleaded not guilty in Superior Court in Toronto to charges of bribery, attempting to obstruct justice, trafficking cocaine, criminal breach of trust, and conspiring to traffic marijuana.

Dheilly-Mattiuzzi began his testimony by telling the jury about a phone call he allegedly received from Ruthowsky back in 2011.

'When you run around in Hamilton, you meet a lot of those guys … police officers who are just like Mr. Ruthowsky.'- Nigel Dheilly-Mattiuzzi, witness

"He contacted me stating that he had a hydraulic kilo press for purchase," he said.

A hydraulic press can be used to press cocaine that has been mixed with a cutting agent into bricks. That lets a dealer increase the volume of their product and in turn, maximize their sales, court has heard.

"[Ruthowsky] called me up one night and said 'Hey Nige, listen, it's ready to go, it's ready to be picked up. When can you be here?'" he testified.

'Come alone'

Court has previously heard that the cocaine press had been sitting for years at the police guns and gangs unit's "undercover" unmarked detachment on Hamilton Mountain.

The Crown's key witness — a different drug dealer who was allegedly paying off Ruthowsky — testified earlier this week that the press once belonged to him, but was seized by police. He told the jury that Ruthowsky had sold the press on his behalf.

"He told me … if I wanted it, he could probably get me some money for the press and the cut that was there, and he'd sell it to someone that we both know," said the dealer, whose name is covered under a publication ban.

Dheilly-Mattiuzzi testified Thursday that Ruthowsky told him he had to get a truck to be able to move the press, and that he had to buy the press itself, some cutting agent and pressing plates as a $5,000 package deal.

"He specifically stated I needed to come alone."

Dheilly-Mattiuzzi said he showed up to the police detachment under the cover of darkness, and pulled up to the back doors. Two to three other people were there at the time, he testified.

"I backed in, and we loaded the hydraulic kilo press into the back of the truck. At the time of loading it I quickly handed him the cash," he said. "I saw him take it and put it into his pocket."

Witness has lengthy criminal record, court hears

The people who were there at the time helped him load it into the truck, the witness testified. It wasn't strapped down, and he was driving with a suspended licence — but he drove away anyway, Dheilly-Mattiuzzi said.

"There was a police cruiser that was following behind me when I was taking the hydraulic press where it needed it go," he said. "I didn't have my driver's licence and I was driving disqualified too. I just saw the cruiser and thought, 'beautiful, this helps.'"

Dheilly-Mattiuzzi said he couldn't remember the exact date the incident allegedly took place, nor could he name the people who were at the police station at the time.

"When you run around in Hamilton, you meet a lot of those guys … police officers who are just like Mr. Ruthowsky," he said.

In his cross-examination, Ruthowsky's lawyer, Greg Lafontaine, took the witness through his lengthy criminal record.

It stretches back to 2005, court heard, and includes convictions for assault, drug trafficking and failing to comply with court conditions.

"I take it you still live a criminal lifestyle to some extent today?" Lafontaine said.

"No, not at all," the witness responded.

Dheilly-Mattiuzzi also said he now lives in western Canada. He testified he left Hamilton in the summer of 2012 because his "life was in danger."

His cross-examination resumes Tuesday morning, after the holiday weekend.

adam.carter@cbc.ca