G20 officers should be charged in Nobody arrest, police watchdog says

An earlier investigation by Ontario Special Investigations Unit resulted in a single charge against Andalib-Goortani. Because other officers believed to be involved refused to testify and other evidence was insubstantial, the SIU said in December, 2010, no other charges could be laid.

The OIPRD report describes police facing a “sea of black” coming toward them with bottles they suspected were filled with feces or urine. Reports of swarming anarchist “Black Bloc” demonstrators who had earlier damaged buildings and torched police cars jacked up tensions, the report said.

Other charges against the officers did not stand up, the police review body said. Accusations by Nobody of a second assault were dismissed.

In particular, the report declared there was reasonable cause to arrest Nobody, who it said threatened police and was carrying a water bottle that could be considered a potential weapon.

The CBC obtained the confidential report and interviewed Nobody about its conclusions.

“I did not threaten to kick any officer’s heads in,” he told the CBC. The water bottle, he said, contained only a mix of water and whiskey.

The OIPRD report exonerated Sgt. Lynn Hughes and Cont. Daniel Lowe of charges of using unreasonable force and acting in a disorderly manner.