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“In short, Const. Doering had preconceived notions about drug users and he held fast to those notions when dealing with Ms. Chrisjohn. Rather than moulding his theory to fit the facts, he seems to have moulded the facts to fit his theory.”

Doering had arrested Chrisjohn, 39, after she was found trying to get into vehicles near Highbury Avenue and Trafalgar Street while high on crystal meth. Three paramedics arrived, but none assessed Chrisjohn, court heard.

London police had arrested the mother of 11 the previous day – when she was also under the influence of crystal meth – but left her at hospital after provincial police, who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest, declined to pick her up until she was cleared medically, court heard.

After the second arrest, Doering drove Chrisjohn to a south-end Tim Hortons and turned her over to two Elgin OPP officers, falsely telling them she’d been in the same unresponsive state since he picked her up, but had been medically cleared.

Doering testified he couldn’t remember if he’d spoken to Chrisjohn during the trip to the coffee shop, saw her slide down the seat three times and stopped at one point to make sure she hadn’t slipped out of her handcuffs.

“Const. Doering was focused on getting Ms. Chrisjohn to the OPP and on making sure that her detention remained secure. It seems that he was far less concerned, if he was concerned at all, with her medical condition,” Pomerance said.

Soon after the handover, St. Thomas paramedics were called to the Elgin OPP detachment for a possible overdose. Two paramedics arrived and were directed to a cell where a motionless Chrisjohn was lying on her side on the floor, breathing irregularly, court heard.