Ontario’s police oversight body has confirmed that it is not currently looking into the incident involving a lawyer who claims she was physically assaulted by multiple officers from the Durham Regional Police Service. The lawyer, Sudine Riley, alleged that she was forcefully slammed against a desk and taken to the basement cells of the Oshawa courthouse without any provocation.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) spokesperson, Kristy Denette, stated that while Durham police informed the SIU about the incident, the SIU has not initiated an investigation as the incident does not meet their investigative criteria. The SIU’s mandate focuses on cases where there is a serious injury, death, allegation of sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm by a law enforcement official.
The SIU defines a serious injury as one that significantly impacts a person’s health or comfort and is not minor or temporary. Examples of such injuries include hospitalization, fractures, severe burns, amputations, or loss of vision or hearing.
Durham police have reported that they are collaborating with court services to gather and review evidence related to the incident. Several legal organizations have condemned the alleged assault and called for an independent inquiry into the matter.
In a recent statement, Durham police disclosed that Riley has been charged under the Trespass to Property Act and that an investigation is ongoing. The officers involved in the incident have been reassigned to roles that do not involve courthouse security to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
Furthermore, Durham police revealed that the allegations against Riley extend beyond misconduct claims and involve criminal accusations. As a result, they have involved the York Regional Police for a criminal investigation and have reached out to the Inspector General of Policing in Ontario for assistance.
Riley’s lawyer, Neha Chugh, released a statement asserting that Riley was working in an interview room at the courthouse when uniformed officers challenged her presence, leading to the alleged assault. Chugh detailed that Riley was subjected to physical force, including having her head slammed against a desk and being forcibly removed to the courthouse cells.
The Durham Regional Police Association (DRPA) president, Andrew Tummonds, responded to the incident by expressing a commitment to an independent review by an external agency, despite the SIU’s decision not to investigate. Tummonds criticized some members of the legal community for what he described as “opportunistic conduct” and defended the officers involved in the incident.
The DRPA statement highlighted the importance of transparency and emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the facts surrounding the incident by an impartial entity.
