Post by dukeofpain on Jan 3, 2006 23:23:22 GMT -5
Cops deny racial profiling, black lawyer sues
CTV.ca News
Police cruisers swarmed a man's car last Wednesday on heightened alert after the murder of 15-year-old Jane Creba. The man turned out to be Jason Bogle -- a 26-year-old black, Toronto lawyer who says he is going to sue the police after alleging that he was a victim of racial profiling.
Bogle drives a Lexus and says he was parked with his girlfriend on a west end street after celebrating his birthday when six police cars swarmed them. He alleges that he was then accused of having a gun and drugs.
"To see not just one, but a number of persons running out of the vehicle and grabbing open your door while you're just sitting there parked is an event on its own," Bogle told CTV's Desmond Brown Tuesday.
As one of Toronto's youngest black lawyers, Bogle knew his rights and refused to let the officers search his car.
He then questioned the police on why he was stopped and was told that it had to do with the Creba murder.
"There was a direct reference made to the shooting that occurred on Yonge Street," he alleges.
Bogle says he told one of the officers that he was a lawyer and gave him his Ontario Bar Association card.
He alleges that the officer's "exact words were… Oh, so you're a lawyer and a drug dealer."
Bogle says the shakedown was everything his parents warned him about when he was growing up and that many within the black community are relating to his experience.
"The entire black community of young men should not be in a position of fear through the entire duration of this investigation," Bogle says.
Toronto Police Spokesman Mark Pugash said that they are adamant that the officers were professional throughout the process. They also claim that they went to extraordinary lengths to explain to Bogle why he was stopped.
Bogle will be filing the lawsuit against the Toronto Police Service in court tomorrow. Canadian Press reported Bogle planned to sue for $1.5 million for wrongful detention and inflicting emotional distress.
"They really picked the wrong person to mess with. But then again, they picked the right person," Bogle says.
He says he is suing because he wants the police to change their procedures.
CTV.ca News
Police cruisers swarmed a man's car last Wednesday on heightened alert after the murder of 15-year-old Jane Creba. The man turned out to be Jason Bogle -- a 26-year-old black, Toronto lawyer who says he is going to sue the police after alleging that he was a victim of racial profiling.
Bogle drives a Lexus and says he was parked with his girlfriend on a west end street after celebrating his birthday when six police cars swarmed them. He alleges that he was then accused of having a gun and drugs.
"To see not just one, but a number of persons running out of the vehicle and grabbing open your door while you're just sitting there parked is an event on its own," Bogle told CTV's Desmond Brown Tuesday.
As one of Toronto's youngest black lawyers, Bogle knew his rights and refused to let the officers search his car.
He then questioned the police on why he was stopped and was told that it had to do with the Creba murder.
"There was a direct reference made to the shooting that occurred on Yonge Street," he alleges.
Bogle says he told one of the officers that he was a lawyer and gave him his Ontario Bar Association card.
He alleges that the officer's "exact words were… Oh, so you're a lawyer and a drug dealer."
Bogle says the shakedown was everything his parents warned him about when he was growing up and that many within the black community are relating to his experience.
"The entire black community of young men should not be in a position of fear through the entire duration of this investigation," Bogle says.
Toronto Police Spokesman Mark Pugash said that they are adamant that the officers were professional throughout the process. They also claim that they went to extraordinary lengths to explain to Bogle why he was stopped.
Bogle will be filing the lawsuit against the Toronto Police Service in court tomorrow. Canadian Press reported Bogle planned to sue for $1.5 million for wrongful detention and inflicting emotional distress.
"They really picked the wrong person to mess with. But then again, they picked the right person," Bogle says.
He says he is suing because he wants the police to change their procedures.