Mississauga’s integrity commissioner discovered that District 6 Councilman Ron Starr scratched up former Councilwoman Karen Ras’s vehicle last year and is recommending that her payment be suspended for 60 days.
In a report to the city council, Robert J. Swayze said the scratching incident, which occurred in April 2021, constitutes workplace harassment under the city’s Respectful Workplace Policy.
“In consideration of the Councilor’s actions, I find that he engaged in harassment against Councilor Ras. Damaging someone’s property, especially their vehicle, is demeaning, offensive and unwanted behavior. The Respectful Workplace Policy makes it clear that a single incident of hostility or offensive behavior that is significant can constitute workplace harassment. Intent or motivation is irrelevant. What matters is how the conduct would be perceived,” Swayze wrote in his report.
“I have decided to recommend a relatively greater suspension of the compensation paid to him as a member of the Council because his action was wanton vandalism and devoid of common decency.”
In February, the city council asked Swayze to investigate the incident that occurred in a secure parking lot at city hall.
Ras, who resigned in January, said the April 2021 incident was not the first time Starr had allegedly scratched his car, claiming he had “repeatedly vandalized” his vehicle. In his online post announcing his resignation, Ras hinted at “problems in the workplace” and said councilors do not have the proper avenues to address them properly.
Swayze presented his findings to the council on June 29.
In his report, Swayze, citing evidence and materials he gathered during the investigation, said Ras’s car was first scratched in the spring of 2019.
He said the car’s front bumper was discovered scratched several times while it was parked in the City Hall garage. Ras called Peel police, but because of the lack of security cameras, “I understand the police investigation was unsuccessful,” Swayze said.
Fast-forward to April 13, 2021, when Ras found more scratches on his car. He called security and asked that they search the surveillance video that had been set up in the parking lot. Ras also notified police, who reviewed the footage and identified Starr as a possible suspect.
Swayze also reviewed the footage, which he said showed Starr getting out of his truck and walking in front of Ras’s car.
“He is clearly seen through the side and front window of his car, crouching down and turning to look at the grill of his car a short distance from the car. He then stood up and walked out of the garage,” Swayze wrote. in the report. describing what he saw on the video.
In a statement sent to Swayze through his attorney, Starr admitted he was the one in the video, but denied tampering with the vehicle, saying he stopped in front of Ras’s car to pick up a piece of paper he saw.
However, Swayze rejected Starr’s claim, saying that he does not accept it as a “credible explanation”.
“I reviewed the security footage in great detail. The councilor provides no information on what the ‘paper’ was, its size, or how it could have gotten there. Before Councilor Ras parked her car, there is no visible material or object in the ground in the area that would be under the driver’s side front bumper. Even when the headlights of Councilman Ras’s car shine directly where that “piece of paper” is supposed to be, there’s nothing visible,” Swayze said.
“There is no other evidence to support the councilman’s explanation that he picked up a ‘paper’. This explanation was never raised in the police investigation. The police report does not mention that the councilman raised this as a possible explanation for what happened.” “. shown in the video; instead, the police report concludes that the councilman scratched the car. Regardless of whether or not he admitted his guilt to the police, on which he did not need to make a determination, he resolved the police investigation by voluntarily paying for the damage to Councilor Ras’s car,” he added.
Swayze said the detective who investigated the April incident told him that an attorney acting on Starr’s behalf “admitted guilt for his client” and arranged to pay for damages “to avoid a criminal misdemeanor charge.” of $5,000″.
Swayze said he reviewed a bill from a collision repair shop that indicated repairs made to Ras’ car. Starr, however, maintained that he agreed to pay on the advice of his attorney.
The commissioner stated that he also reviewed the statements of a property damage adjuster, who was hired by Starr, a biomedical engineer and chiropractor.
“Based on my review of all the evidence from my investigation, including materials provided to me at the last moment, and on a balance of probabilities, I find that it is more likely than not from all the circumstances that the Councilman caused the damage to Councilman Ras’s car on April 13, 2022,” Swayze said.
For his part, Starr, through his attorney, accused Swayze of being biased because the commissioner did not initially investigate the incident when Ras came to him.
In his defense, Swayze said Ras consulted him about the scratching incidents and sought advice, but did not file a formal complaint.
Starr also said the investigation was politically motivated, stating that Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s comments to the media about the incident “indicate the council’s motivation for passing the resolution calling for an investigation and that these motivations are improper and political.”
At the time, Crombie apologized for not “pressing” Swayze to investigate the councilman’s allegations of harassment.
“As council leader, I should have done everything in my power to protect my friend and colleague. I should have pressed our Integrity Commissioner to open an investigation into this once the criminal investigation was closed by the police,” said.
The council asked Starr in February to take a leave of absence until the investigation was complete and the findings were reported to them. The city council will consider the report at a meeting on Wednesday.
Starr, who was first elected to the council in 2010, is seeking reelection in October.