London police wait 36 days to report officer charged with multiple assault offences

The London Police Service waited more than one month to report that a veteran officer was charged with multiple assault offences, and only did so after conditions were breached.

Const. Juan Romero-Hernandez, a 19-year member of the force, was arrested Dec. 12, 2023 and was charged with the following:

• Two counts of assault.
• Assault with a weapon.
• Resisting arrest.
• Obstructing police.

Court documents obtained by CBC News identify two victims in the incident, with a blunt object as the weapon used.  

The 46-year old off-duty officer was charged again, two weeks later on Dec. 23, when he attended a prohibited location set out in his release conditions. 

He appeared in court the following day and was released with an order that he not visit the prohibited location, except to retrieve personal belongings in the presence of a uniformed police officer.

Lawyer Damon Hardy appeared in court virtually on Thursday on behalf of Romero-Hernandez. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 25 to deal with a written application for a publication ban.

Two lawyers are listed in court documents as representing Romero-Hernandez, the other being Lucas O'Hara. 

Romero-Hernandez has been suspended with pay. 

The London Police said in a statement released Wednesday night that it would not comment further because the case was before the courts. 

CBC News has requested further information from the Police Services Board and the London Police Force about the nature of the assault.

It has also requested comment on the length of time it took the LPS to report the incident to the public. Usually, assault cases are reported by the LPS within days of charges being laid.