Sergeant in cop shooting trial spends second day on the stand

The trial of Niagara Regional Police Const. Nathan Parker continued Wednesday with Det. Sgt. Shane Donovan — the officer who shot Parker multiple times — on the stand recounting the aftermath of the shooting.

While Donovan fired the shots, it is Parker, 55, who is on trial. He pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and assault with a weapon, his retractable baton.

“I couldn’t believe what had happened,” Donovan said. “I didn’t understand how it got so far so fast. My only thought was to get him help.”

The Crown prosecutor played the tapes of Donovan’s communication with the dispatcher and asked Donovan, 57, how he was feeling at that point.

“I can hear the stress in my voice, and I am having a hard time breathing, but I know it is important, and I have to keep control and get him help,” Donovan said. “I could see Const. Parker on the ground. I could see blood dripping from his head area onto his neck, and I wanted to get an ambulance there as quickly as possible.”

Parker sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including one through his cheek and nose and another through his left shoulder. He was also wounded in his upper thigh, left hip and the back of his right foot. He also sustained four shots to his left calf, and there was an entry wound on his lower abdomen.

The trial is being held in Hamilton in front of Justice Anthony Leach. The Crown prosecutor is Jeremy Tatum, who works out of the Crown law office in Toronto.

Donovan was originally charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, but the Crown withdrew the charges last November, saying there was “no reasonable” chance of conviction.

On Nov. 29, 2018, Parker was blocking off part of Roland Road in rural Pelham so the collision reconstruction unit Donovan headed could record measurements and take photos from a crash that had occurred a few days earlier near the intersection with Effingham Street.

Parker’s job was to block the road for four to five hours “to ensure the safety of his fellow officers while the reconstruction was underway.”

Defence attorney Joseph Markson started his cross-examination of Donovan Wednesday.

Markson asked Donovan about a series of miscommunications that left Parker stranded at the barricade, in need of a bathroom break, and unable to communicate with Donovan so he could be temporarily relieved and take a bathroom break.

Parker hadn’t been provided Donovan’s work cellphone number, and Donovan wasn’t signed onto the mobile data terminal in the marked cruiser he had borrowed.

Donovan told the court his impression of Parker was of someone who “was not approachable, and not friendly at all.” He had also heard from other officers that Parker used steroids.

“You had so much in your head against Const. Parker that you would not speak directly to him to give him your telephone number,” Markson said.

“I disagree, sir,” Donovan replied.

“You are unhappy with Parker, and you were unhappy it was Const. Parker, who was assigned to the barricade at the very start,” Markson said.

“No, definitely not,” Donovan said.

The trial continues Thursday.