A black York Region officer faces Police Act charges for not investigating racial taunts thrown at him when he was called to a bush party.

Const. Dameian Muirhead, 33, is charged with three counts of misconduct for his handling of a farm party turned ugly, where he was allegedly subjected to repeated racial slurs and told, “I would love to see that guy hanging from a tree.”

Muirhead, an eight-year veteran, was charged with insubordination and discreditable conduct over the way he allegedly investigated the party on the Victoria Day long weekend in May 2011. A partygoer lodged the complaint, saying he was rudely treated — but Muirhead also faces a neglect of duty charge for failing to properly investigate the racial remarks.

A police disciplinary hearing which began Tuesday was told that Muirhead and other officers were sent to the party after a woman was seriously injured when run over by an off-road vehicle.

Muirhead has told police investigators he and his fellow officers were immediately met with hostile resistance by about 15 people who had been drinking.

In his written defence, Muirhead said none of the partygoers would identify themselves, admit that the off-road vehicle’s driver had been on the premises or provide identification.

While Muirhead has yet to take the witness stand, the disciplinary panel heard from the man who lodged the complaint against the officer, Rheal Duguay, 41, who runs a landscaping and engine repair business in Aurora.

Duguay testified he was offended because Muirhead wouldn’t talk with him as he checked the licence plates of vehicles at the farm party.

Things got particularly ugly when Duguay’s $400 leather jacket fell from his motorcycle to the ground during the plate check and Muirhead ignored Duguay’s order to “Pick up my (expletive) jacket!”

At this point, according to Muirhead, the officer stepped back to de-escalate the tensions while a fellow officer and Duguay yelled at each other, with Duguay calling the officer an “(expletive) pig.”

Muirhead’s written defence said partygoers hurled racial taunts including comments on the darkness of his skin and “I would love to see that guy hanging from a tree.”

The prosecutor alleges Muirhead failed “to properly investigate an allegation that you made about Rheal Duguay which connected him to a person making racial remarks.”

In his defence statement, Muirhead doesn’t accuse Duguay of making any of the racial taunts, and Duguay stressed at the hearing there was nothing racial about his anger toward Muirhead.

“There’s no racism,” he testified. “I’m married to an Asian lady. My kids are half-Asian.”

Duguay said he did not hear any racial taunts or threats, and that he had only been at the party for a few minutes when police arrived.

He admitted under questioning from Muirhead’s lawyer, Courtney Betty, that he became agitated and swore at the officer when he refused to pick up the fallen jacket.

“He just ignored me,” Duguay said. “It’s not a professional manner. . . I pay taxes. I deserve to be treated like a human.”

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Betty asked Duguay what sort of example he was setting for his 8-year-old daughter by swearing and yelling at a police officer in front of her.

“He gets paid to do a job,” Duguay replied. “So it’s up to him.

“He’s a police officer. He’s supposed to set examples.”

“Was there any damage to the jacket?” Betty asked.

“No, just dirt,” Duguay replied.

Things got worse on May 24, 2011, when Duguay and Muirhead ran into each other at a gas station. Duguay asked for the officer’s business card and badge number. He said he believes he was given a false number, yet he did not write it down.

In his statement to police, Muirhead said he provided his name and badge number, and directed Duguay to a police station to file his complaint. Duguay said Muirhead also called him a “loser.”

Duguay admitted under questioning from Betty he told Muirhead he is lucky to have a gun and a badge, or he would “kick his ass.”

Muirhead then arrested Duguay for uttering threats. The hearing was told the charge was dropped on condition Duguay take a one-day anger management course.

Prosecutor Jason Fraser said the force is no longer seeking Muirhead’s dismissal or demotion if he is found guilty on any of the charges.

The hearing before York Regional Police Supt. Robertson Rouse continues Wednesday.