'Upsetting' video raises questions about how Toronto police handled allegation of assault by officer
A new video recording obtained by CTV News Toronto raises questions about how the Toronto Police Service handled a report about an alleged assault by an officer on a Black TTC rider.
The video -- which is evidence in an ongoing trial -- shows a Toronto staff sergeant appearing to go to great lengths to avoid acknowledging injuries in a man he’s booking, as the man complained about being choked and hurled to the ground after he was accused of not paying his fare.
“He choked me out on the bus,” says the man, Chase Richards, to a booking staff sergeant at 43 Division. “I could hardly breathe right now. It’s hard for me to stand.”
“Stop, stop, stop,” the staff sergeant replies, and asks Richards to go through his injuries repeatedly, appearing to dismiss them.
“So, you’re in good health?” the staff sergeant asks.
“Before I was arrested. Now I’m not in good health right now,” Richards responds.
“You look pretty good to me,” the staff sergeant says.
Later, the staff sergeant is seen in the video examining Richards.
“There’s not a scratch or a mark or an abrasion, do you agree?” the staff sergeant asks.
“No, I don’t. You’re not a doctor,” Richards replies.
Richards was released the next morning, facing a charge of mischief and causing a public disturbance.
Court documents show a doctor diagnosed Richards in January with a calf injury, and a bus surveillance video also released by the court appears to show a pair of officers arrive at the bus; within about 25 seconds one appears to put his hand around Richards' throat and push him to the ground.
Surveillance video presented in court shows two plainclothes police officers grabbing a young Black man on the TTC. (Court exhibit)
It also shows the Presto card reader on the bus flashing green as he taps his card, implying he did pay his fare.
That video is now evidence in the trial of Detective Christopher Hutchings.
Court documents indicate a charge of assault against Hutchings was sworn on January 20, 2020.
Prosecutors dropped the charges against Richards two weeks later.
Nigel Barriffe of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations listened to the 20-minute recording and said it was “upsetting."
“The very people who are supposed to keep him safe and care for him refused him that medical attention,” Barriffe said.
“This young man’s rights were being trampled over and over again. For me it’s an example of anti-black racism that continues to be prevalent in the police,” Barriffe said, renewing his calls to defund the police.
Abby Deshman of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said the video illustrates how hard it can be for people seeking justice, especially when they making allegations about police.
“There’s a conflict of interest inherent in the police investigating the police,” Deshman said. She said that in cases of death and serious injury, an officer is required to report an injury to Ontario’s Special Investigative Unit. But it’s not clear Richards’ injuries rose to that level.
Richards should have recorded the injuries and provided information about the path to complain about his treatment, she said.
“It becomes very clear watching this why it is so incredibly difficult for people to bring forward allegations and information they’ve been mistreated by police. People are routinely disbelieved,” she said.
Former prosecutor Calvin Barry said the booking officer has a tough job and said they have to deal with a lot, including people who fake injuries to avoid going through a booking process.
But he said it’s important to not prejudge a situation.
“There’s been a movement that police have to do a little bit more to make sure that people are ok,” he said.
The Toronto Police Service didn’t offer a comment on this story, saying it’s still before the courts. The staff sergeant didn’t respond to an e-mail, but the TPS confirmed that he does not face any discipline.
Hutchings' case will resume at the end of July.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed Thursday in Nepean dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Mexican authorities say thieves killed 2 Australians and an American to steal their truck
Thieves killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck, particularly because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday.