Hamilton cop among those arrested in GTA gang raid

WATCH ABOVE: Toronto Police conducted a series of raids Thursday and made dozens of arrests. One of those was of a police officer. Peter Kim reports.

TORONTO – A Hamilton police officer was among those arrested in early-morning raids on Thursday targeting a Toronto street gang called the “Monstarz.”

Toronto police revealed on Friday the officer, identified as 41-year-old Craig Ruthowsky, had been suspended with pay since June 2012 for unrelated allegations.

As a result of his arrest, he has been charged with breach of trust, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, participate in activities of a criminal organization and commission of an indictable offence for a criminal organization.

Police did not reveal the nature of the officer’s role in the criminal activity.

WATCH ABOVE: A Hamilton police officer was among those arrested in the province-wide anti-gang operation known as “Project Pharaoh”, police revealed during a press conference Friday morning.

The announcement of the officer’s arrest comes a day after police conducted raids across the Greater Toronto Area.

Investigators say the operation, with more than 60 arrests made, involved police in Toronto, Peel Region, Halton Region, Hamilton, Barrie, Bradford, Durham Region and St. Catharines.

Police say they carried out 50 search warrants as part of “Project Pharaoh,” aimed at a mid-level gang involved in the trafficking of drugs and guns.

Acting Chief of Police, Jim Ramer, said $3.8 million worth of drugs were seized, including 14 firearms, $196,000 in cash and 15 vehicles.

VIDEO: Toronto Police say they carried out 50 search warrants as part of “Project Pharaoh,” aimed at a mid-level gang involved in the trafficking of drugs and guns.

They say 27 people had already been arrested in advance of Thursday’s raids and more arrests are expected.

The course of the investigation determined members of the Monstarz gang had been involved in 44 reported incidents in and around the Rexdale area since May 2011.

In one incident on May 30, 2014, two Toronto-area hospitals were placed into lockdown for several hours after a gunman opened fire at a victim in a parking lot of Etobicoke General Hospital, shattering the glass of the emergency room.

“It was sheer luck that no innocent victim was either injured or killed,” said Ramer.

With a file from The Canadian Press