Lawyer alleges Durham Region police violently assaulted her, dragged her to cells in Oshawa courthouse
CBC
A lawyer says she was left bloody and swollen after multiple Durham Regional police officers allegedly slammed her head on a desk without provocation, ripped off her head scarf and dragged her to the basement cells of the Oshawa courthouse last week.
According to a statement issued by her lawyer, Neha Chugh, defence lawyer Sudine Riley finished a trial late on Friday and was catching up on legal work in an interview room when uniformed officers “challenged her presence” in that room.
In her statement, Chugh said police, who were working as security, slammed Riley's head on the desk and put their knees on her back and neck, and spoke to her with “rage, disrespect, and contempt.”
She said officers then forcibly “dragged” Riley from the room in handcuffs and took her to the basement cells of the courthouse.
“Her head scarf was ripped off, her skirt was raised when she was handled by officers, and her head was bleeding and her eye swollen from being slammed into the desk,” Chugh's statement reads.
“She committed no offence other than being a Black woman practising law, being diligent about her commitment to the pursuit of justice.”
Chugh's statement does not indicate how many officers were involved in the incident.
The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has confirmed to CBC News that it has opened an investigation into an incident that took place shortly after 5 p.m. at the courthouse on Jan. 23.
In its statement to CBC News, DRPS Sgt. Janalyn Dowdle said the service is working with court services to obtain and review all evidence of the incident.
CBC News asked if DRPS would be passing the investigation to another police service, given that the allegations were made against its own officers.
“The allegations arising from this matter are being taken with the utmost seriousness,” reads Dowdle's reply email.
“DRPS has assigned the appropriate investigative and oversight resources to fully understand the circumstances and determine what further actions may be required.”
Dowdle stated no further information is available at this time with an investigation ongoing.
While these allegations have not been tested in court, safety concerns have been raised by lawyers who work at the Oshawa courthouse.
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