A lawyer in Durham region, Ontario, has accused police officers of assaulting her in an Oshawa courthouse. Sudine Riley, who is Black, claimed that she was slammed onto a desk, pinned down, handcuffed, and had her head scarf torn off by uniformed Durham officers in January. Despite these allegations, York regional police found no grounds to press criminal charges against the officers involved.
Riley’s legal representative, Atrisha Lewis, expressed disappointment over the lack of charges and emphasized that no lawyer should face such mistreatment, especially based on their race. Riley has been adamant about seeking accountability for the incident and has requested access to the alleged assault video, which has not been provided to her.
Following Riley’s accusations, the Criminal Lawyers’ Association has called for an independent investigation into the matter and is closely monitoring the situation. They are particularly interested in the transparency of the decision made by York police in not pursuing charges against the Durham officers.