Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jul 2008
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2008 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Jamie Komarnicki
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)

POLICE BEING PROBED FOR VIOLENT ARRESTS

The provincial Special Investigations Unit has begun a probe of the 
actions of three Toronto Police Service officers involved in a drug 
bust that left a Toronto man with serious injuries.

An Ontario Superior Court ruling last month said the officers 
involved in the case "physically abused" two young men they arrested 
in June, 2006.

Mr. Justice Brian Trafford threw out firearms charges against Shayne 
Fisher, 24, and Valter Almeida, 23. In a June 26, 2008, decision, he 
wrote: "Clearly, the defendants were physically abused by the TPS 
when they were arrested on June 7, 2006," and several of the young 
men's other legal rights were infringed.

Yesterday, the SIU announced it is looking into three officers 
connected to the case, with nine more officers named as witnesses.

Under the province's Police Services Act, services are required to 
notify the SIU when police action has resulted in serious injury or death.

But this case came to the attention of the agency through local news 
media reports detailing the extent of the injuries Mr. Fisher 
sustained during the arrest - including a fractured rib, perforated 
eardrum and bruising around the eye, said SIU spokesman John Yoannou.

"In this situation we became aware of this as a result of media 
accounts. It's not a usual practice," he said.

"We realized this was an occurrence that fell within our mandate and 
moved very quickly to commence an investigation."

The issue of why Toronto police didn't inform the SIU of the case 
will be part of the investigation, Mr. Yoannou said.

The SIU has ordered transcripts of the trial and assigned two 
investigators, though more may be added if additional witnesses come 
forward, he said.
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