G20 police misconduct probe reopened
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 | 10:48 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Police officers are seen arresting Adam Nobody, 27, during a G20 protest at Queen's Park in Toronto on June 26. (YouTube)Ontario's police oversight agency is reopening an investigation into alleged police misconduct in the case of a man who suffered facial fractures while being arrested at a G20 protest in Toronto.
The Special Investigations Unit said in a Tuesday release it will take a fresh look at the case of Adam Nobody, 27, whose nose and cheekbone were broken during a June 26 protest at Queen's Park.
The SIU's initial investigation determined that excessive force was "probably" used, but it couldn't determine which specific officer was responsible for causing the injuries.
In arriving at that conclusion, the SIU interviewed a civilian witness and eight officer witnesses, as well as reviewing a video of the arrest that was posted on YouTube.
The video shows about a half-dozen police officers chasing and then tackling Nobody at Queen's Park. SIU director Ian Scott said the video appeared to show one of the officers striking Nobody repeatedly while he was on the ground.
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair criticized the SIU for using a video that he said had been edited and "tampered with."
"The evidence that they're relying on is false," Blair told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Monday.
The man who filmed the YouTube video, John Bridge, sent a sworn affidavit to the SIU saying the video was not edited. He said he had just turned off his camera for a few seconds as he considered backing away from advancing police officers.
"In my view, the assertions by Chief Blair and the contents of the affidavit sworn by Mr. Bridge satisfy the criteria of being materially new information with respect to the Nobody incident," said Scott in a statement. "Accordingly, I am reopening this investigation."
Lawyer asks for police evidence
The SIU, which investigates incidents in which civilians are killed or seriously hurt in interactions with police in Ontario, will also interview Bridge. Investigators will also ask Blair to turn over "any further relevant information he has with respect to this incident and more specifically any forensic evidence in his possession regarding the allegation of tampering with the video tape."
Nobody's lawyer Julian Falconer dismissed Blair's criticisms.
"I sure hope the chief of police, having made these very serious allegations has something to back them up," he said Tuesday.
"You hope this wasn't the rant of an overly defensive police chief."
The SIU also investigated five other cases where people alleged mistreatment at the hands of police during the G20. In one of those other cases, the SIU found officers had likely used excessive force.
But the watchdog is not proceeding with criminal investigations on any of the complaints, citing a lack of evidence or an inability to determine how exactly the complainants sustained their injuries.
Share Tools
Latest Toronto News Headlines
- Unknown remains found on Dellen Millard's farm
- Police searching the farm of Dellen Millard, the 27-year-old charged with first-degree murder after the remains of Ancaster, Ont., man Tim Bosma were discovered, have found other remains on the property, but it's unclear if they are human or animal. more »
- Man shot dead at barbecue near Ossington and Dundas
- A 67-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting a man with a rifle at a family barbecue in downtown Toronto Sunday night. more »
- Baseball fuels dreams, desperation in Dominican Republic
- The Toronto Blue Jays have a number of stars from the Dominican Republic, but in the shadow of these successful players is an equally important story about hope and poverty, and a country desperately struggling to balance the two. more »
- Hidden camera catches abuse at Ontario seniors facility
- The Ontario government and police are investigating a long-term care facility after a hidden video camera captured an elderly woman with dementia being abused by her caregivers. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- NDP wants RCMP inquiry into $90K payment to Duffy
- The NDP has asked the RCMP to launch an investigation into the $90,000 payment from the prime minister's former top aide, Nigel Wright, to Senator Mike Duffy in relation to the Senate expense scandal. more »
- Will alleged Rob Ford video overshadow Toronto casino debate?
- A debate about a proposed downtown casino is supposed to take centre stage at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday, but it seems a safe bet that a still-unseen video of Mayor Rob Ford will continue to be a topic of conversation. more »
- Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx
- A jobless Canadian IT professional who is collecting employment insurance is upset because he now suspects several recent jobs he applied for went to temporary foreign workers. more »
- Baseball fuels dreams, desperation in Dominican Republic
- The Toronto Blue Jays have a number of stars from the Dominican Republic, but in the shadow of these successful players is an equally important story about hope and poverty, and a country desperately struggling to balance the two. more »
- Unknown remains found on Dellen Millard's farm
- Will alleged Rob Ford video overshadow Toronto casino debate?
- Missing Toronto woman's parents unfazed by Millard link
- Man shot dead at barbecue near Ossington and Dundas
- Rob Ford should resign if allegations true, councillors say
- Man dies after bike accident in Underpass Park
- Rare, $26,000 bottle of scotch stolen from Toronto shop
- Busy weekend for OPP at Wasaga Beach
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denies crack cocaine allegations


Toronto traffic with Joan Chang