By Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative
The bail hearing of a Chatham-Kent police officer facing charges after allegedly injuring a 40-year-old man with reckless driving was adjourned for a third time this week.
Const. Cristelle Vanden Enden was charged and arrested on Monday with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
There are several conditions requested by the crown in order to consent to her release, mainly providing a residential surety. This was the second bail hearing in a row the defense failed to provide one.
The matter was postponed to Friday.
Vanden Enden was charged after police responded to a residence in Chatham to assist EMS with an injured 40-year-old Chatham man on Jan. 9. The matter was turned over to the Windsor Police Service once the Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) suspected Vanden Enden may have been the driver of the vehicle which injured the man.
The man was transported to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance for medical attention and has since been released.
A publication ban is in place that prohibits any pre-trial evidence discussed in court from being publicized.
These are not the only charges Vanden Enden had to contend with.
Earlier this month she was charged with three counts of drug possession following a traffic stop by Leamington OPP. She was released and a week later she was charged with breaching her release conditions.
In May 2020, Vanden Enden was charged with fraud under $5,000, causing the use of a forged document and possession of stolen property, after a local citizen reported to police that he had some personal blank cheques stolen. The report was made in December 2019 and the matter was handed over to the Sarnia police once the police suspected a local officer was involved.
Four months later, in August, Vanden Enden was charged with drug possession. It was decided that the charge would be withdrawn if she completed a program called Direct Accountability – an alternative to formal prosecution for people who have been charged with minor criminal offences.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service have not released any further information or comments on the matters in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and the pending Police Services Act investigation.
Vanden Enden remains on medical leave from the CKPS.
