Judge Drops Heroin Charges Against Man Beaten By Police

Media Awareness Project ^ | 5.3.03 | Kirk Makin

[freepatriot32]

A man has a right to take an innocent late-night walk without being waylaid and beaten up by police -- even if he turns out to be carrying heroin, a Toronto judge has ruled.

Tossing out heroin-trafficking charges against Vincenzo Pitaro, Ontario Court Judge Joseph Bovard said police lied to obscure the fact that they stopped Mr. Pitaro "on a phantom of a suspicion that he might be up to something."

Judge Bovard said the two Toronto police officers who accosted Mr. Pitaro on Sept. 27, 2001, were on a "fishing expedition," and stopped the man to note his identity for possible future use.

"It is troubling that the police think it is justifiable to stop a person in these circumstances because it might prove helpful for an investigation that does not even exist yet," Judge Bovard said.

"In Canada, it is perfectly all right to take a walk down the street on which one lives -- even if it is 3:24 a.m."

A hairdresser in the Bloor and Christie area of downtown Toronto, Mr. Pitaro, 55, has a long record of drug and fraud offences.

He testified that upon pointing out to the police that they lacked reasonable cause to search him, one officer leapt from the cruiser and began pummelling him and smashing his head against the sidewalk.

"Probable cause? Here, I'll show you reasonable cause," Mr. Pitaro quoted the officer as yelling.

Defence lawyer Howard Goldkind said that when his client was brought in for a bail hearing, he was an appalling sight. "He came in looking like he'd done 10 rounds with Muhammed Ali."

In his ruling, Judge Bovard described the violence as "completely unjustifiable." He said Mr. Pitaro was hit dozens of times but never hit back, since his hands were handcuffed behind his back

[freepatriot32]

Mr. Pitaro was hit dozens of times but never hit back, since his hands were handcuffed behind his back

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[bedolido]

In my youth I was handcuffed. You can't do anything if they're on right. I say they should've taken them off to make it fair.

[MrLeRoy]

He testified that upon pointing out to the police that they lacked reasonable cause to search him, one officer leapt from the cruiser and began pummelling him and smashing his head against the sidewalk.

"Probable cause? Here, I'll show you reasonable cause," Mr. Pitaro quoted the officer as yelling.

Another hero of the War On Some Drugs.

[Wolfie]

"In Canada, it is perfectly all right to take a walk down the street on which one lives -- even if it is 3:24 a.m."

Oh man, that's just crazy talk!

[joesnuffy]

A man has a right to take an innocent late-night walk without being waylaid and beaten up by police -- even if he turns out to be carrying heroin, a Toronto judge has ruled.

smart mouth junky skell...gets pummled boo hoo hoo

[MrLeRoy]

smart mouth

"Pointing out to the police that they lacked reasonable cause to search him" is "smart mouth"? Do have the minimal decency to not call yourself a conservative.

[aimhigh]

So, two wrongs do make a right.

[microgood]

Good way for a cop to get AIDS.

[Peter Libra]

Imaginary scene in Toronto tavern. Maybe the old Keystone Hotel, or the Walsingham. Wise old habitue, a little bleary with imbibing too may suds. Says to all and sundry.

The jedge izzon sumpin hisself. LOL.

[tracer]

Those Canadians are so polite. The guy would have been shot 73 times in many American cities......

[clamboat]

Those Canadians are so polite. The guy would have been shot 73 times in many American cities......

That's just absurd hyperbole!

No perp has ever needed more than 42 rounds to be put down.

[dcwusmc]

Yer right... it woulda only been 72 times not 73...

[cinFLA]

One of these days you druggies will find some decent person to put on your posts instead of criminals ....

"A hairdresser in the Bloor and Christie area of downtown Toronto, Mr. Pitaro, 55, has a long record of drug and fraud offences. "