A new video has been released showing what appears to be an interaction between Toronto police officers and Regis Korchinski-Paquet moments before he fell from a balcony two years ago.
The video was shared by Jason E. Bogle, the lawyer representing the Korchinski-Paquet family, on Wednesday afternoon during a press conference announcing a $ 10 million civil lawsuit in connection with his death.
In the statement of claim filed Monday, the Ontario Attorney General’s Office, the City of Toronto, the Toronto Housing Community, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Joseph Martino and five police officers from Toronto respondents to the incident were named as defendants.
Korchinski-Paquet died after falling from a balcony on May 27, 2020, while in the presence of Toronto police officers, who were called to his High Park Avenue apartment by Korchinski-Paquet, the his mother and brother, who made 911 calls later. a family conflict.
The SIU, which is investigating police-related incidents that resulted in death, serious injuries, allegations of sexual assault or the unloading of a firearm, found no grounds to charge the officers who responded. She said that despite the first claims that pushed her, Korchinski-Paquet was alone on the balcony when she fell.
RELATED: Read the full SIU report
“We filed a complaint explaining that the report made by Joseph Martino was sadly inaccurate as to the events the family remembers happened that day,” Bogle said. “Furthermore, our position is that the alleged facts of that day do not align with the video recordings captured of Officer Weddell’s aggressive behavior on Ms. Korchinski-Paquette, minutes before her death.” .
The video, which he reproduced during the press conference, begins with the arrival of an officer, whom Bogle identified as Officer Weddell, on the 24th floor of the building where Korchinski-Paquet’s residence was located.
In the video, Weddell is seen with a firearm, which appears to be a shotgun. He is then seen shoving him in the back as he walks towards the unit.
Bogle said that before Weddell and another agent arrived, three agents, who had already responded, had reported by radio that there were no security issues.
Weddell then allegedly behaved “aggressively” when he arrived at the unit, grabbing Korchinski-Pack and throwing her to the ground, Bogle said.
Shortly afterwards, Korchinski-Paquet was allowed to re-enter his unit. Three officers, including Weddell, also entered his apartment, Bogle said, noting that officers were inside for about a minute.
The video jumps when you see the agents moving away from the unit. Bogle noted that Weddell’s firearm was no longer in the same position as before, adding that, according to police notes, Weddell removed it while inside the Korchinski-Pack unit.
“And therefore, essentially, our position is that the information that was excluded from Mr Martino’s report was sadly inaccurate and misleading and did not provide any reasonable explanation of how and why Miss Korchinski-Paquet went find it on the balcony at that time, ”Bogle said. . In the statement of claim, he stated that the presence of Weddell’s weapon and the failure of the officers ’de-escalation tactics contributed to his death.
Bogle also accused Weddell and the other agents of conspiring “to create an inaccurate narrative” to deceive the family and the public.
Bogle added that the SIU report also did not align with the information it received from a civilian, who was not questioned by the police dog.
She claimed the civilian was on a video call with Korchinski-Paquet for 20 seconds shortly after she and officers returned to the apartment unit.
“The witness noted that the phone call was terminated and that his additional attempts to re-establish connections were terminated on Ms. Korchinski-Paquet’s cell phone. All attempts to reconnect to the call and find the phone have basically failed, “Bogle said.
He added that his phone was not insured as part of the SIU investigation.
In a statement to CP24, an SIU spokesman confirmed that he had received a notice of the action.
“The Unit has no comment on issues that are before the court except to say it maintains the integrity of its investigation,” the spokesman said.
Balcony fence requests have been ignored
The family is suing the city and TCHC for allegedly failing to erect a fence on Korchinski-Paquet’s balcony despite several requests.
Bogle said Korchinski-Paquet and his mother asked TCHC over the years to install security fences, but those requests “had been unsatisfied and ignored.”
“The City of Toronto has had a long history and understanding that the TCHC has been relinquished in its responsibilities in responding to residents’ requests to maintain their properties, ”Bogle added.
A city spokesman said they will not rule on the matter, but will answer through the courts.
Judicial review of the OIRPD
Bogle said it has also filed a motion for judicial review of the decision of the Office of the Independent Director of Police Review (OIPRD) not to file any charges against Toronto police officers.
The OIRPD is a civilian agency that handles all public complaints about the police in the province.
The family filed a complaint with the OIRPD in November 2020 and the agency published its findings in September 2021.
Bogle said the OIRPD’s findings “fell below its standards.” He noted that a judicial review is expected in October.
“Our judicial review and statement of claim will attempt to uncover additional information about what happened that day in Regis, what happened to Ms. Korchinski-Paquet’s cell phone, and why those members of the Toronto Police Service failed to Ms. Kaczynski Paquette on May 27. 2020, “he said.