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15-02-2010, 02:06 AM
TORONTO - A veteran Durham cop charged for allegedly beating up two teen boys outside a Whitby theatre on Super Bowl Sunday is a muscle-bound, longtime competitive bodybuilder.
Basil Odei, 41, has won numerous bodybuilding competitions as well as gold medals at three World Police and Fire Games. But on Feb. 9 the Whitby man, who has been on the force for more than 15 years, was arrested on assault charges.
After the arrest, Durham police issued a statement explaining the charges stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred two days earlier outside the AMC theatre complex on Consumers Rd. while the officer was off-duty.
It’s alleged that Odei became involved in an argument with two teens as they waited for rides home after attending a Superbowl party at a nearby restaurant.
“He (the officer) allegedly punched one 16-year-old male and grabbed another 16-year-old male during the incident,” the press release said. “There were no serious injuries.”
Odei was arrested by officers from the Professional Standards Unit, charged with two counts of assault and then released from custody on a promise to appear in court, police said.
The accused officer was suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the charges, police said.
Since then, the Sun has learned of Odei’s exploits in dozens of bodybuilding competitions over the last two decades.
Neither Durham police nor Odei could be reached for comment over the weekend.
According to his online biography from three years ago, Odei stands a mere 5-foot-5. But he weighs an incredible 211 pounds when he’s competing and 228 pounds in the off season.
Odei began lifting weights at just 14 and two years later entered his first bodybuilding competition. He didn’t compete again until 1990 when he won first place as a junior heavyweight at the provincial level and a month later took second place at the nationals.
Odei has since placed in the top five on six occasions at the Canadian Nationals Bodybuilding Championships. chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca
Basil Odei, 41, has won numerous bodybuilding competitions as well as gold medals at three World Police and Fire Games. But on Feb. 9 the Whitby man, who has been on the force for more than 15 years, was arrested on assault charges.
After the arrest, Durham police issued a statement explaining the charges stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred two days earlier outside the AMC theatre complex on Consumers Rd. while the officer was off-duty.
It’s alleged that Odei became involved in an argument with two teens as they waited for rides home after attending a Superbowl party at a nearby restaurant.
“He (the officer) allegedly punched one 16-year-old male and grabbed another 16-year-old male during the incident,” the press release said. “There were no serious injuries.”
Odei was arrested by officers from the Professional Standards Unit, charged with two counts of assault and then released from custody on a promise to appear in court, police said.
The accused officer was suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the charges, police said.
Since then, the Sun has learned of Odei’s exploits in dozens of bodybuilding competitions over the last two decades.
Neither Durham police nor Odei could be reached for comment over the weekend.
According to his online biography from three years ago, Odei stands a mere 5-foot-5. But he weighs an incredible 211 pounds when he’s competing and 228 pounds in the off season.
Odei began lifting weights at just 14 and two years later entered his first bodybuilding competition. He didn’t compete again until 1990 when he won first place as a junior heavyweight at the provincial level and a month later took second place at the nationals.
Odei has since placed in the top five on six occasions at the Canadian Nationals Bodybuilding Championships. chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca