Video arrest suspect facing nine charges
The man whose arrest was caught on video and widely circulated faces nine charges, including assault of a peace officer and uttering death threats.
Police were called after the man allegedly spat on a staff member at Seaton House, a downtown homeless shelter. Officers located the man near Dundas St. E. and Dalhousie St., and a female officer approached him.
According to police, the man spat at and punched her. When construction workers attempted to step in, one was bitten by the man. The man then kicked out the back window of a police car after he was placed in the back seat, police say.
The man now faces nine charges: two charges of assault; two charges of utter threats – death; three charges of assault peace officer; one charge of assault with intent to resist or prevent arrest and one charge of mischief damage to property.
Letter carrier Waseem Khan said he was nearby when he saw police reach into the back of a police car and bring a man to the ground. He began recording on his phone. The video, which shows police arrest and Taser the man, has been circulated online as police told Khan if he didn’t stop recording, they would seize the phone as evidence. One officer warned Khan the suspect would spit on him and give him AIDS.
“I am particularly displeased by what appears to be an intrusion into people’s civil rights because one of the best friends we all have in terms of transparency, and including the best friends the police have, is people using cameras,” Mayor John Tory said.
In a series of tweets Wednesday night, Toronto police apologized for ignorant comments about AIDS.
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is not spread through saliva.
Toronto Police spokesperson Mark Pugash said the police’s professional standards division would examine the incident to determine if the officers should be disciplined.