The 174-page report by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) is based on interviews with a dozen police witnesses, the five officers involved, five civilian witnesses and Nobody himself.
The allegation that Constables Michael Adams, Babak Andalib-Goortani, Geoffrey Fardell, David Donaldson and Oliver Simpson used unnecessary force “is substantiated and is of a serious nature,” the report says.
Nobody suffered a broken right cheekbone and broken nose in the takedown on June 26, 2010.
An earlier investigation by Ontario Special Investigations Unit resulted in a single charge against Andalib-Goortani. Because other officers believed to be involved refused to testify and other evidence was insubstantial, the SIU said in December, 2010, no other charges could be laid.
The OIPRD report describes police facing a “sea of black” coming toward them with bottles they suspected were filled with feces or urine. Reports of swarming anarchist “Black Bloc” demonstrators who had earlier damaged buildings and torched police cars jacked up tensions, the report said.
Other charges against the officers did not stand up, the police review body said. Accusations by Nobody of a second assault were dismissed.
In particular, the report declared there was reasonable cause to arrest Nobody, who it said threatened police and was carrying a water bottle that could be considered a potential weapon.
The CBC obtained the confidential report and interviewed Nobody about its conclusions.
“I did not threaten to kick any officer’s heads in,” he told the CBC. The water bottle, he said, contained only a mix of water and whiskey.
The OIPRD report exonerated Sgt. Lynn Hughes and Cont. Daniel Lowe of charges of using unreasonable force and acting in a disorderly manner.
Original Article
Source: Star
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