A police officer has pleaded guilty to one charge of misconduct after he was caught drinking while guarding a body in a northwest Toronto apartment earlier this year.

Const. Junior McLaughlin was brought before a disciplinary committee on Thursday at Toronto Police Service headquarters.

​He pleaded guilty to being unfit for duty due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs.

According to an affidavit about the Jan. 28 incident, McLaughlin responded to a radio call for a foot pursuit of a suspect. He was then assigned to an apartment in the area of Albion Road and Todd Brook Drive while other officers searched for the suspect, the affidavit says.

While at the location, McLaughlin consumed a quantity of alcohol. The affidavit then goes on to say that McLaughlin returned to 23 Division and consumed more alcohol in the parking lot.

There is no mention in the affidavit of how McLaughlin got to the police station from the apartment but it does say that he called a police dispatcher and his speech was slurred.

Police confirm McLaughlin drove himself to 23 Division

Police spokesperson Kevin Masterman told CBC Toronto on Thursday that McLaughlin drove himself after consuming alcohol at the home near Albion Road.

Masterman said there was no evidence that he drank behind the wheel and no evidence to say he was drunk while driving to 23 Division, thus no impaired driving charge was filed.

McLaughlin also called dispatch from his uniform radio, not within the car, Masterman said.

The statement of facts say that McLaughlin was located by an officer near his marked car in the division parking lot, taken into the station and taken home.

The incident sparked an investigation by the Toronto Police Service's professional standards unit.

McLaughlin has been on paid leave since the incident.

At Thursday's hearing, the prosecutor and the defence submitted a joint submission for a 12-day suspension.

The Professional Standards judge will give his ruling electronically within the next two weeks.

Lawyer raises questions about breath sample

Meanwhile, a lawyer who works on police accountability cases but is not affiliated with this case, told CBC the officer who found McLaughlin, or another officer, should have investigated whether or not he had operated the vehicle, and if there were grounds to believe he had, to demand a breath sample.

"The prosecutor from the hearing this morning should know if this was done, and if it was not done, why not," Sean Dewart said.