Orangeville Police Constable Peter Curtis pleaded guilty to four allegations of misconduct in a brief hearing Tuesday held in the council chambers at Town Hall.

The allegations originate from an incident at a First Street bar on October 30, 2004, during which officers arrested two individuals at about 2 a.m.

A drunken male, whose pants were down to his ankles exposing his genitals, was being removed by bouncers from the bar.

He was then arrested for public intoxication and placed in a police car in the bar's parking lot where Const. Curtis and other officers were present.

The incident occurred when a witness referred to only as "M. L." approached Const. Curtis to voice his opinion about what he'd observed.

As a result, M. L. was arrested and placed in the rear of a police vehicle and transported to the police station while Const. Curtis transported the other male.

A friend of M. L. approached another officer asking him to ask Constable Curtis why M. L. was being arrested.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Const. Curtis responded over the radio: "Trying to decide whether it's plain obstruction or public intox."

Shortly afterward, M. L. was released from custody, with no charges having been laid. The statement said Const. Curtis failed to, as required by procedure, make any entries in his notebook about the arrest of M. L. or to complete an arrest report.

Once released, M. L. and a friend, "R. L.," returned to the bar to pick up M. L.'s vehicle. M. L. drove across the street, where R. L. used a pay phone.

The statement said Const. Curtis arrived at the location and spotted the two men. During this interaction, M. L. placed his hands on the hood of Const. Curtis' cruiser while shouting at him. The constable responded by telling R. L. to get his friend "off my [expletive] cruiser and go home."

M. L. had then put his hand out toward Const. Curtis who refused to shake it and ordered him to return to his car. The constable then followed him out of town.

Upon hearing details of the arrest, Chief Rod Freeman ordered an internal investigation, which was conducted by the Professional Standards Branch of the Toronto Police. Retired York Regional Police Deputy Chief Terrance Kelly presided at Tuesday's hearing.

Const. Curtis was found guilty on four of 17 Police Act charges, and will hear his sentence next week when the remaining charges will be dealt with as well.

The first three charges - two of neglect of duty and the third for discreditable conduct - relate to the incident at the bar.

The fourth is in relation to an incident last month and was also for neglect of duty. The constable arrested a 17-year-old for public intoxication around 2:45 a.m. on June 29. After arriving at the police station he placed the teenager in an interview room and failed to advise anyone else of this while he left the station to assist another officer with a foot pursuit. The teen had then left the room and approached female communications staff.

Three other officers are also facing allegations of misconduct in relation to the first incident and their hearings have yet to be set.