Canada

Judge hammers Ottawa cops for lying under oath, misleading court in searing decision

It’s the summer and fall of 2021, and the Ottawa police drug squad is conducting an investigation into a man suspected of illegal drug and gang involvement. The officers mistakenly identify the target’s brother in a truck with two other men during their surveillance. Despite the lack of evidence of any drug deal taking place, the police continue to monitor the truck out of suspicion.

The truck eventually travels to Toronto and stops in a movie theatre parking lot in Scarborough. In the evening, a car arrives at the lot, and one individual from the truck briefly enters the car before returning to the truck. The police interpret this exchange as a potential drug deal or resupply.

The target’s brother drives the two others back to Ottawa, where they are arrested by Det.-Const. Aristidis Tasoulis and Det.-Const. Tim Renwick on charges of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. A search of the truck yields half a kilogram of fentanyl, 19 oxycodone pills, a single anticonvulsant pill, and $2,600 in cash.

However, the case takes a dramatic turn when it is revealed that the brother was never identified as a target to the squad, and the truck was not flagged as a vehicle of interest. Tasoulis and Renwick failed to document these crucial details, leading to a lack of reasonable and probable grounds for the arrests.

Justice Anne London-Weinstein delivers a scathing decision, citing serious breaches of the brother’s Charter rights by the officers. Tasoulis’ attempt to fabricate grounds after the fact in court further damages the case. As a result, the evidence obtained by the police is deemed inadmissible, leading to the acquittal of the brother and the other two men charged in the case.

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London-Weinstein criticizes the officers’ actions, stating that their behavior undermines the administration of justice. While acknowledging the seriousness of the drug-related charges, she emphasizes the importance of upholding Charter rights and maintaining integrity in police investigations.

Ottawa police and the union representing officers did not provide comments on the matter. Defense lawyer Joe Addelman, who represented the acquitted brother, also declined to comment. Despite the controversy, Tasoulis and Renwick remain assigned to the drug unit, raising concerns about accountability and ethical conduct within the force.

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