Special Investigations Unit identifies officers through video, stills and witnesses
The civilian organization tasked with investigating complaints against police for their conduct during the Toronto G20 summit has announced that Const. Babak Andalib-Goortani has been charged with assault with a weapon for the alleged beating by police of protester Adam Nobody. The Special Investigations Unit had previously decided that it was impossible to identify the perpetrator from the YouTube video of the incident, but additional video provided by the Toronto Star and cooperation from a police witness led them to reverse their decision. Nobody further alleged that he was beaten a second time after his initial arrest, but the SIU says it hasn’t found enough evidence to lay a charge. The Toronto police service is also reviewing the conduct of its officers, and is disciplining nearly 100 for not wearing their name tags. Several further investigations into police activity at the summit are ongoing.