The accused, an off-duty police officer, was charged with assault causing bodily harm after taking down a 19-year-old who had sold a fake Apple watch to his colleague.
The accused pursued the seller and tackled him to the ground after the colleague had already retrieved the money.
The court rejected the accused's defences under sections 25 (lawful arrest) and 35 (defence of property) of the Criminal Code, finding he did not intend to arrest the seller and the force used was excessive.
However, the court found the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the takedown caused the victim's head bruise.
The accused was found not guilty of assault causing bodily harm, but guilty of the included offence of assault.
