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A 13-year-old boy who allegedly brought a gun and ammunition to his Toronto elementary school won’t face a trial after a judge ruled he was improperly strip-searched at the police station.

Ontario Court Judge David Cole stayed the gun possession and assault charges against the boy because he found his charter rights were violated, but not without some stern words for both the boy and Toronto police.

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There is a “decade-long history” of strip searches by Toronto Police Service officers sometimes being found unconstitutional, Judge Cole said, citing other decisions.

They do not make you cool. They do not make you powerful. They do not make you into a tough guy

“With all due respect to the TPS (and perhaps also to the Police Services Board), it seems to me clear that unless the admittedly rather draconian remedy of a stay of proceedings is not imposed, ‘state misconduct is likely to continue in the future,”’ Judge Cole said, using wording from a Supreme Court of Canada decision.

To the boy, Judge Cole said he hopes he has learned from the experience to leave guns alone.

“They do not make you cool, they do not make you powerful, they do not make you into a tough guy,” he said in his ruling Monday.

“Just the converse: possession of them is foolish, not only because they can get you thrown out of school or put you in jail, but more importantly because they can injure or kill you or your fellow students.”