Durham Regional Police officers accused of assaulting a lawyer at an Oshawa courthouse during an arrest earlier this year won’t face charges, police say. In a statement published Wednesday, police said an investigation by York Regional Police into the Jan. 23 incident found there were “no reasonable grounds” to support criminal charges against any of the officers involved in Sudine Riley’s arrest. Durham police referred the matter to York investigators after Riley alleged the officers slammed her head into a desk, put their knees in her back and neck, and dragged her to the courthouse’s basement cells after she was trespassed from the space. Riley’s lawyer at the time said that her client was catching up on legal work in an interview room after finishing a trial at the courthouse when the officers “challenged her presence.” “She committed no offence other than being a Black woman practicing law, being diligent about her commitment to the pursuit of justice,” Lawyer Neha Chugh said in a statement posted in January. Chugh added that Riley’s headscarf was also removed by the officers. Durham police say the matter has been referred to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) to assess whether any misconduct occurred. The Special Investigations Unit, which investigates incidents involving officers that result in serious injuries, death, allegations of sexual assault or an officer discharging their firearm at a person, did not invoke its mandate. “DRPS remains committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining public confidence in policing and court security. Further updates will be provided as appropriate,” police said in Wednesday’s statement. Riley’s legal team said they were “disappointed” by the results of the investigation, and that the events of Jan. 23 have has a “significant” and “lasting impact” on her. “No lawyer working in a Courthouse should be subject to the treatment Ms. Riley faced,” Atrisha Lewis said in a statement to CTV News Toronto. Lewis added that Riley has requested all video footage of the incident, but has not been able to obtain or view it. “Ms. Riley is committed to pursuing all avenues to ensure accountability. Black lawyers, like all lawyers, should be able to work freely in court houses in this Province without being assaulted.”
