Woman struck by stray bullet sues police

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. •A Mississauga, Ont., woman injured by a stray bullet during an incident in which a man was fatally shot by police is suing Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans, the police services board and others for damages.

Ontario’s police watchdog agency says Suzan Zreik was in her home when officers fired multiple shots, killing a 22-year-old man on March 20, 2015, and she was taken to hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.

In a lawsuit filed Friday, Zreik, 23, claims assault and battery, negligence causing bodily harm, gross negligence and abuse of process and misfeasance in public office.

The statement of claim alleges Evans failed to ensure officers were properly trained and that she knowingly withheld the extent of Zreik’s injuries from the Special Investigations Unit. None of the claims in the suit have been proven in court.

Sgt. Josh Colley says Peel police are “unable to comment as this matter is currently before the courts.”

The claim says officers following up on a report of threats being made attempted to lure a woman from her home to arrest her.

As the officers were wrestling with the woman, the son came running back yelling and was met with a “hail” of 19 bullets, 11 of which struck him, the claim states.

Zreik — who was in her kitchen — was struck in the back by a bullet that smashed through her front window, the claim says.

Zreik — who was in the Police Foundations course at Humber College — claims that Evans visited her in hospital, told to call her if she needed anything and that “her future career in policing was all but guaranteed.”