“Gratuitous Attack and Deliberate Concealment of Crime”: Dafonte Miller Case
Dafonte Miller, represented by his lawyer Julian Falconer of Falconers LLP, has filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director in connection with the vicious assault and subsequent charges laid against him on December 28, 2016.
The complaint alleges that Toronto police and Durham regional police tried to cover up the attack on Miller to protect Michael Theriault, a Toronto constable, and his brother Christian Theriault from prosecution.
The complaint, which was filed Tuesday, further alleges the police forces “blindly” accepted the brothers’ accounts of what happened, despite Miller’s obvious and severe injuries and the presence of witnesses, who they failed to interview.
It also alleges that the Theriaults’ father, a detective with the Toronto police professional standards unit, was in contact with Durham investigators about the case, “thereby furthering the concealment” of the incident. Toronto’s police chief has said that the professional standards unit made the call not to contact the province’s police watchdog.
The Special Investigations Unit wasn’t notified of the alleged incident until months later, by Falconers LLP, and has since charged the brothers with aggravated assault and other offences.
Falconer stated, “this represented, in my opinion, a deliberate and intentional effort on the part of police authorities to conceal a crime by one of their own.”
In the News
Demonstrators protest outside hearing for brothers charged in beating of Dafonte Miller Toronto Star, September 7, 2017
Toronto police board meeting to happen today under threat of protest over teen’s beating CBC, August 24, 2017
Coordinated cover-up, Lawyer for Dafonte Miller Holds Nothing Back The Oshawa Express, August 23, 2017
Why bad cops usually get away with brutish behaviour: DiManno Toronto Star, August 17, 2017
New complaint alleges police coverup in Dafonte Miller case CBC, August 17, 2017
Toronto, Durham police accused of covering up Dafonte Miller assault case Toronto Star, August 17, 2017
Civilian agency asked to investigate after officer charged in Dafonte Miller beating City News, August 16, 2017
Civilian oversight agency asked to investigate after Toronto officer charged in Dafonte Miller assault The Star, August 16, 2017
Lawyer alleges that father of cop charged in Miller case interfered with investigation CP24, August 16, 2017
La province priée de mettre en oeuvre les recommandations du rapport Tulloch CBC, August 16, 2017
Video Links
Dafonte Millers lawyer, Julian Falconer, asking civilian agency to investigate 2 Ontario police forces City News, August 16, 2017
Julian Falconer, lawyer for Dafonte Miller, alleges that father of cop charged in Miller case interfered with investigation CP24 August 16, 2017
Related Documents
Media Advisory: Police Oversight Statement. August 16, 2017
Press Release: Police Oversight Statement. August 16, 2017
Dafonte Miller Schedule A to the Complaint. August 16, 2017
Dafonte Miller Schedule B to the Complaint (DRPS). August 16, 2017
Report of the Independent Police Oversight Review The Honourable Michael H. Tulloch
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