Innocent Assaulted: Police Brutality
Initially published: March 13/2020
So there I was Rapping, working, playing, practicing some dance moves and performing my music at the University of Ottawa auditorium in UCU. 1am. March 5, 2020. Janitor doing his daily cleaning on his Zamboni. Some late night stragglers & keeners passed by as I was in the flow of my music and performing. A few hours in and I went to take a break upstairs at the café where most of the students were chilling, studying & eating. I did not have any money and jumped the barrier to take a walk & circle through where it seemed all the students were, my intentions were to just pass by. I’m an alumnus there, so it was no biggie. I took a sip of Cola, and they immediately called security. I mean, 1 sip of Cola is equivalent to a few pennies.. they don’t even make that denomination anymore — sticklers. So anal!
Security came by and asked me all these unnecessary questions about why I was there, so I told them the above and showed them my UO Card. It was expired, so they took the card — it’s like, do you even want your students to rep the university; do you even want me to say I went to UO? That’s for another time.
Apparently the security guards know the hours of the building, but clearly they did NOT because there were other students passing through the building as well, and they did not stop them. I felt, and was, singled out. They wanted me to leave the premises, so I did. However, they still called the cops on me because they wanted me to leave immediately.
As I took a right turn off the University campus, 6 cop cars came and pulled me over and did not tell me the reason as to why, until the very end. I was confused and left clueless. I told them I wanted to speak to a lawyer and my parents, since they (the popo) were being aggressive with me and they STILL forced their way and spoke over what I was trying to say. They took my phone from my hand before I could even make a call or record the events and broke the screen (property damage). Illegally searched my car, without a warrant. And guess what… Found NOTHING. Because GUESS WHAT, I’m not a fucking CRIMINAL. I should have bought a dash cam! One of the cops slammed my window and it almost broke. Told him not to slam it that hard, and he became aggressive. For me, I take pride in caring for my car — Fe Slay.
In My Fe Slay, Get Your Face Lift, Feel A Natural High, Is What The Case Is.
At the moment, it’s seen better days, since the fact that I was homeless and in debt, searching the city for a job, a contract, and a deal.
However, the manner in which they were speaking with me was not appreciated and should not be tolerated by anyone, especially the innocent. Speaking in an interrogatory tone & demeanor. The department needs a lesson in mental health & yoga, maybe spend a month in the hospital unit and learn how to speak to your fellow man, with respect.
I unlocked my door and a cop, right away, belligerently opened it and grabbed me and started searching me and my car… like 5 of them. They then pinned me down to the pavement and were still searching me, at this point, 8 of them around me, possibly to conceal from the public what was actually happening. I was clearly NOT resisting, I was confused WHY such a thing was occurring. When I was on the ground they smashed my face in, kicked my right leg (intentionally) over 10 times, bruised my back, both my knees, and both my arms & hands. Roughed & scuffed up my clothes, as you can see below.
- edit: pic_of_scuffed_up_sweater_from_that_night_march_5_2020
By the end of the night I realized that my fingers were swollen from their over aggressive and violent behaviour. A few hours later (9:30am), at my family clinic, my doctor told me that I should go to the ER. And so I spent the ENTIRE day there.
I was handcuffed and put in the back of the cruiser while the female cop read out some statements, and they definitely were NOT my Rights. She was having a hard time, and to me, seemed as if she was crying on the inside, as if she knew I was innocent, not guilty. However, she had to play along, if she wanted to fit in at the station, because she was with the other police staff.
They asked me if I was high or drunk, and did extensive testing and I passed all of them. Mind you, it was the middle of the night and the cops probably hadn’t seen any action, so when they heard of a tip (which I don’t even know if that was the case…), they became like animals and rushed to the “scene”, I could see it on their face. So after the DUI testing resulted in a pass, the chief came and diffused the situation immediately. When I spoke to him, an Asian man, he immediately recognized the innocence and told some of the cops to leave. He was Walkie-Talkied to another area and had to leave before they released me.
I could tell the other cops really needed a “win” and wanted me to be guilty, however, I was not and they put me through ANOTHER test in the dead of an Ottawa winter. This one a balancing act & display of perseverance. Let me clarify & elucidate my point. This is AFTER the breathalyzer machine resulted in a pass. Walk 9 steps forward in the middle of the road, turn around, and walk 9 steps back the other way (NINE! NINE!). And a final test to display my lower body strength, while standing — had me raise my leg 30 cm off the ground, one at a time, for 30 seconds. I was in pain, but I held it back and passed.
At the end of it all, I was NOT charged and was left speechless as to what had just occurred. They let the so called “power” get to their heads. The only thing I knew I could do, at the time, was to write down what had just happened; below is a screenshot of what was written by myself, that night (March 5, 2020–4am).
I’ve had some run-ins with the cops on previous occasions, but nothing like this. Those instances were more involved with a mis — diagnosis that had occurred at the QCH by a lady on the verge of retirement. That’s another story on its own. To conclude this, I’ve seen better days and 8 days later, I’m finally able to walk (at about 75%) with ease and minimal pain. I still can’t play any sports, practice yoga, or bike around as spring approaches — but still trying to stay fit with the exercise bike.
Spring. My favourite season. As the harshness of the winter comes to an end and the anticipation of Summer arises right around the corner, I’m reminded to take things in stride, and to appreciate the little things. The breeze today was breathtaking with the sunlight shining down, but I was too consumed in my own thoughts and this whole dilemma to truly appreciate it.
Anyways, justice needs to be served and we need some sort of organization or company like BBB, but for regulating the police / cops. An App!
Possible Cases for Tort (wrongful act):
- unlawful seizure of property (cell phone)
- unlawful searches (ruined the inside of my entire car and glove compartment)
- assault and battery (out on the streets)
- negligent use of force
I will need to report it & find the cadry’s of the police officers responsible for acting overly wreck-less over misinformation.
Thanks for the read. Any thoughts & comments — Leave them here!
