Pubdate: Wed, 19 Jun 2013
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Jennifer Pagliaro

SWEEP LEAVES LINGERING FEARS

Members of Toronto Somali Community Say They Were Victimized by 
'Reckless' Police During Gang Crackdown

Saeda Sidin Hersi woke to what sounded like gunshots.

When police arrived at the Dixon Rd. complex where she lives early on 
June 13, she was startled awake, the woman told a news conference.

"It was like a loud, repetitive thunder. It reminded me of gunshots," 
the 65-year-old woman said, her story told through a written 
translation. "I was pinned against a wall, rubber handcuffs holding 
my hands behind my back and I was pushed onto the floor by what 
looked like a soldier."

Hers was one of several stories shared on Tuesday at the conference 
held by the African Canadian Legal Clinic, condemning last week's 
raids as part of Project Traveller and alleging that police officers 
used excessive force and were culturally insensitive.

"After the raid, many Somali community members felt victimized, 
traumatized, as a result of the reckless manner in which the officers 
forcibly entered their homes," said Mahad Yusuf, executive director 
of Midaynta Community Services.

"The Somali community has further been stigmatized by the actions of 
some officers involved in the raid."

Police spokesperson Mark Pugash said he has doubts about parts of the 
woman's story told Tuesday. He added many people in the community 
have come forward to thank police for their efforts.

"The response from people in the community, to the fact that we have 
removed from their community people we believe have committed serious 
crimes, has been incredibly positive," he said. Later, Saeda Sidin 
Hersi tells her story inside the apartment where she says police 
officers in tactical gear broke down her door, threw in a flash-bang 
and tried to handcuff both her and her 96-year-old mother, Fadumo 
Sidin Hersi, while they arrested her son as part of the sweep - a 
year-long operation that culminated with the raids last week 
targeting guns, drugs and alleged gang members.

Her apartment at 340 Dixon Rd. is part of a complex of six buildings 
known as Dixon City that was the focus of the raid and where police 
say the alleged gang members of the Dixon City Bloods are based.

But the complex in Little Mogadishu has also been the subject of much 
controversy after it was linked to a video that appears to show Mayor 
Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine.

Sources have told the Star police became aware of the existence of 
the video during surveillance for Project Traveller.

And after reports of the video shown to two Star reporters were 
published, sources said that during a meeting with staff, the mayor 
blurted out two units at Dixon Rd. where the video could be located.

Another address on Windsor Rd., which was also subject to a search 
warrant, was the setting of a now infamous photo taken of Ford and 
three men - one who was shot and killed in March, and two others who 
were arrested as part of the sweep.

That morning, Saeda Sidin Hersi - who came from Somalia with her 
mother in 1992 - said she cried out for her daughter, but the only 
one who came was a police officer.

As a Muslim woman with her legs exposed on the ground, she said she 
begged for the officer to cover her up. Then, she said, with her 
heart pounding, she pleaded for water and medication for her high 
blood pressure. "When I moved, he pushed me back down and kicked my 
face, then continued searching the room," she said. In the apartment 
she touches a cheek in between wiping away tears.

When a new group of officers arrived, Saeda Sidin Hersi said they 
brought her into the room with her mother, who had fallen from her 
bed in the commotion. She said her mother was bleeding and crying. 
Fadumo Sidin Hersi told her daughter an officer had tried to pin her 
down and also handcuff her, but she was trembling so badly, he 
eventually returned her to the bed.

"Every time she hears the doors open, she cries: 'The soldiers are 
coming, they're coming,' " the younger woman said.

Both women later attended the hospital for injuries, Saeda Sidin 
Hersi said. Faded bruises and abrasions could still be seen on the 
arms, legs and cheek of the women. The Star couldn't verify the cause.

They have not filed a complaint and none of the allegations have been proven.

Saeda Sidin Hersi's son, Siyadin Abdi, 29, faces several charges 
including participating in a criminal organization, trafficking in 
firearms and ammunition, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Police spokesperson Pugash said the women can file a complaint with 
police or the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

"I do not believe that an officer kicked her in the face," Pugash 
said. "If any of our officers haven't lived up to the standards that 
we demand, then we will hold them accountable."

Pugash said the raids were far less disruptive than the violence the 
community has experienced.

"You're asking officers, who have intelligence that there could well 
be weapons behind the doors by people prepared to use them, who have 
to get in those units under difficult circumstances," he said. "There 
is no doubt the community is safer today then it was prior to the 
execution of the search warrants."

Ford refused to answer reporters' questions about Dixon Rd. 
residents' complaints that they were victimized by the raids.

"There's a police investigation, no I cannot elaborate on anything," 
Ford said. "It's before the courts. There's a police investigation."

The day after the raids, several residents of Dixon Rd. told the Star 
that the trauma of the raids notwithstanding, they were glad police 
arrested those they believe are causing trouble in the community.

But despite the newly launched Project Clean Slate that has followed 
the raids and will continue for a month with uniformed officers and 
youth recruiting to a force that has only one officer of Somali 
descent, some community leaders say its not enough.

"We're doing our best. We're trying, we're pushing," Pugash said. 
"But we can always do better, of course."

Not all Somalis necessarily agree with the criticisms by Mahad Yusuf 
and the legal clinic. Faduma Mohamed is spokesman for a Somali group 
called Positive Change, and she said Tuesday that "everybody's 
traumatized (but there's) nobody I have seen who will say it 
shouldn't have been done."

Mohamed stressed that her group does not speak on behalf of the 
entire Somali community, only her organization and the Somali 
Canadians it has encountered. But she notes that she and her 
colleagues "are very closely working with the Toronto Police in 
general, specifically 23 Division (and) we get huge support from the 
community at large."

- - With files from David Rider and Sahar Fatima
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom