One of the seven Toronto Police officers charged last week in a sweeping anti-corruption investigation conspired with an organized crime figure to traffic Toronto Police uniforms, police allege in newly released court records that offer fresh details in a case that has shaken the province’s criminal justice system.
The court record laying out 17 charges against Constable Timothy Barnhardt alleges that the 19-year veteran of the Toronto force worked closely with Brian Da Costa, who police accuse of being involved in an international drug-trafficking network.
On Oct. 23 of last year, about four months after York Regional Police launched its Project South anti-corruption investigation, Constable Barnhardt and Mr. Da Costa allegedly trafficked “clothing and uniforms” that were the property of Toronto Police Service, according to the document.
The court record lists the two men as co-conspirators in seven separate charges, including obstruction of justice, public mischief and unauthorized use of a Toronto Police computer.
Toronto Police declined comment when asked if the force is examining its processes for distributing uniforms as a result of the allegations in this case.
“As these charges are before the courts, I’m not able to provide a comment,” spokeswoman Nadine Ramadan said in an e-mail.
Constable Barnhardt lost his bid for bail last week.
The other charged police officers were released on what’s known as a Form 10, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the investigation. A Form 10 is a formal undertaking to appear in court at a later date, which allows the accused to be released directly by police. In the meantime, they agree to abide by conditions set by police that could include where they must reside as well as places or people they must avoid.
The Globe and Mail is not naming the sources, who were not authorized to release information about the case.
York Regional Police would not confirm that the officers were released and would not provide copies of their undertakings.
Mr. Da Costa’s bail hearing is scheduled for later this week.
The charge-sheet also clarifies three gun charges laid against Constable Barnhardt as part of Project South. Police allege that between Sept. 11 and Sept. 13, the officer carelessly stored his force-issued Glock 9mm pistol inside a vehicle, handled the weapon “for a purpose dangerous to the public peace” and brought the gun to an unauthorized location.
Constable Barnhardt was the first officer whose conduct came under scrutiny after an alleged attempt by several suspects to kill a corrections officer in June, investigators said at a news conference last week.
Police said that on several occasions Constable Barnhardt accessed a police database to supply information to a criminal network, including the correctional officer’s address.
Five people have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Neither Mr. Da Costa nor any of the police officers are among them.
Both Constable Barnhardt and Mr. Da Costa are also accused of trafficking oxycodone, MDMA, Xanax and Adderall.
When officers arrested Mr. Da Costa, they seized 169 pounds of cannabis and one pound of fentanyl. Police now allege he breached a Feb. 3 release order that stipulated he remain at his residence, the document states.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
The TPS officers charged include Constable Barnhardt; Sergeant Robert Black; Constable John Madeley Jr.; Sergeant Carl Grellette; Constable Saurabjit Bedi; Constable Derek McCormick; and Constable Elias Mouawad; as well as retired constable John Madeley Sr.
In court records also released on Monday, investigators allege that Constable McCormick stole cellphones last October. Two of the phones were the property of York Regional Police, the document says.
Police also allege Constable McCormick stole personal documents belonging to “numerous individuals” between April, 2024, and December, 2025. He is charged with breach of trust for allegedly stealing “found property” during the same period.
The Globe reported last week that Constable McCormick, who was assigned to the downtown 52 Division, allegedly stole property delivered to his police station rather than record the items into a log, according to a Toronto Police press release. He allegedly kept bank cards, passports and other government-issued identification documents.
Constable McCormick also faces a charge of obstruction of justice in relation to allegedly “disposing of evidence in sewer” between April, 2024, and December, 2025, according to his charge sheet.
The 28-year veteran was suspended with pay three weeks before Project South was made public after he had been arrested by his own police service, according to the Toronto Police press release.