Charges dropped against photojournalist
Community service done after incident at accident
The Crown’s office has dropped charges of obstructing police and resisting arrest against freelance video and photojournalist David Ritchie.
The charges were withdrawn Tuesday in court, but the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) says it still wants an investigation into how police treated him.
Ritchie was working at the scene of a fatal crash in Waterdown on May 16 when Hamilton police Const. Jeff Todoruck took his camera and put it in his vehicle. He then directed Ritchie to leave. Ritchie refused, requesting the return of his video camera first — and was promptly arrested.
The crash killed a 10-year-old girl and the scene was described as emotional and chaotic, with only two officers initially scrambling to deal with people all over the road.
Hamilton police issued a statement Tuesday saying “by refusing to abide by police direction in the circumstances, Ritchie caused a breach of the peace.”
In court earlier in the day, assistant Crown attorney Warren Milko withdrew the charges and Ritchie “accepted responsibility for the offence of obstructing a peace officer,” according to the police statement issued later.
Ritchie said after the decision he was relieved.
“I’m just happy the charges were withdrawn … that’s what matter.
Ritchie’s lawyer, Nadir Sachak, said after court, that the dropped charges means “there was no criminal act” by Ritchie. “There is no record for this. He was not found guilty, there is no conviction.
“He’s free to do his job, to appear at scenes of accidents, do his recording — just as he was as a freelance journalist before.”
Sachak said his client has already completed the two requirements for the charges to be dropped — 10 community service hours and a $250 donation that Ritchie chose to go to the McMaster Children’s Hospital. The police statement says Ritchie was required to complete 12.5 hours of community service, but Sachak says it was less than that.
Ritchie must also abide by a peace bond for 12 months.
Police spokesperson Jackie Penman said Hamilton Police Chief Eric Girt won’t be making any further comment beyond the statement already issued.
Duncan Pike, co-director of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, said his group is making a complaint to the Office of the Independent Police Review Directorate and to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
“We need to know why charges were brought … there need to be answers, for us to make sure it doesn’t happen again. There should be an independent investigation into the conduct of the Hamilton Police Service,” he said.