Videographer for Global sues after arrest by Hamilton police

A Global News journalist has filed a $900,000 lawsuit against the Hamilton Police Service after he was arrested while covering the death of a 10-year-old girl struck by a car in Waterdown.

Videographer Jeremy Cohn filed a statement of claim against Const. Jeffrey Todoruck and the police service alleging negligence, false arrest, false imprisonment, assault, battery, intentional infliction of mental suffering and a breach of The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

He is seeking $700,000 in general damages and $200,000 in punitive damages.

Cohn was arrested along with freelance video and photo journalist David Ritchie on May 16 while they covered the death of Jasmin Hanif.

The Global News videographer was released without charge but Ritchie was charged with obstructing police and resisting arrest. The charges against Ritchie were dropped by the Crown’s office Oct. 18.

Duncan Pike, co-director of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, said at the time his group would be 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.”