Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, January 27, 2012

Lawyer wants Police Chief Bill Blair investigated over G20 arrest

Prominent lawyer Clayton Ruby is calling for an investigation into Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair’s role — if any — in the illegal arrest and search of Jason Wall during the G20 summit in Toronto.

Ruby filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) on Wednesday based on information in the investigative findings from Wall’s original complaint, filed in December 2010.

On Sept. 7, 2011, the OIPRD concluded that Wall, who had been wearing a bandana around his neck, was arrested illegally on June 27, 2010 on a charge of wearing a disguise with intent.

The complaints agency also found there were reasonable grounds to lay misconduct charges against two officers, Const. Blair Begbie and Const. Vincent Wong, who are now subject to a Police Services Act hearing.

Ruby said information in the report suggests Blair ordered the arrests of anyone wearing a bandana, which contradicts the chief, who has stated publicly that “I wasn’t directly involved with operational decisions.”

Ruby claims that officers arrested Wall on the direct orders of Blair, although the report does not implicate Blair.

The report includes a statement from Begbie that he got his instructions “from command,” but it’s unclear who gave those orders because of the complex command structure.

There was a command structure in Toronto and another in Barrie overseeing the whole G20 security operation.

Begbie told the OIPRD he was briefed by a sergeant who had come from a meeting with the “Chief of Police” and had received specific instructions that “anybody wearing a bandana or mask or gas mask concealing their identity were to be arrested for disguise with intent and I specifically wrote that in my book that morning.”

When Ruby reviewed the report from the OIPRD, he drew the connection that Blair was giving direct orders that led to the arrest of Wall.

Wong told the OIPRD that his instructions were “from upper command” and he did not name Blair.

Ruby states that based on the findings the OIPRD should have investigated the chief’s role in Wall’s arrest, search and detention more fully.

When asked for a response, Blair’s spokesman Mark Pugash said: “The chief did not attend any operational meetings.”

The OIPRD told the Star that it would not comment on whether it would act on Ruby’s complaint because it does not discuss individual cases due to privacy concerns.

Wall has settled a lawsuit against Toronto police on undisclosed terms.

The OIPRD is an arm’s length government agency that oversees the investigation of public complaints against Ontario’s police.

Original Article
Source: Star 
Author: Curtis Rush 

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