The trial of Hamilton gangs and weapons officer Craig Ruthowsky is into its second week of evidence. The jury has heard that the detective was working more closely with his drug dealer informants than his police colleagues; Ruthowsky is accused of bribery, trafficking cocaine, conspiracy, breach of trust and obstruction of justice.

The prosecution says Craig Ruthowsky did not formally register his informants with the police service in accordance with the rules and he cut deals with them he wasn’t authorized to make, the crown says. Another guns and weapons officer testified that police are not allowed to watch informants commit crimes, or exchange street information for police information, as Ruthowsky is alleged to have done.

Officers have testified that they would never allow an informant at a crime scene, Ruthowsky allegedly invited his contact to this grow op bust in Stoney Creek in 2011, after he couldn’t fulfill a promise to hand over half the crop. The plants were too immature.

The jury also saw documents today that show Ruthowsky took a white powder to a private lab for testing in 2012, paying more than a $1000 for the service, even though police have free access to Health Canada drug testing. The prosecution says this allowed Ruthowsky’s dealer friend to identify his favourite cocaine cutting agent, phenacetin and to obtain it at a discount.

Monday, a Toronto officer testified about a bust at the home of an associate of Ruthowsky’s drug dealer friend in June 2015. He said when police arrived with a battering ram, a plastic rat sat on the doorstep. He immediately thought “the jig is up.” Police found nothing incriminating in the house.

The crown is nearing the end of its case, only a few witnesses are left to testify. Wednesday we expect to hear directly from the drug dealer Ruthowsky is accused of working with and we should hear the wire-tapped phone call between the two, that tipped police off to the relationship.