Officers’ alleged assault on lawyer at Oshawa courthouse referred to York police
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2026 (233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Durham regional police say they have referred allegations that officers assaulted a lawyer at an Oshawa, Ont., courthouse to York regional police for a criminal investigation.
The police force says it has been advised that the allegations made by Sudine Riley extend “beyond claims of misconduct.”
A statement issued by Riley’s counsel alleges the defence lawyer was left bleeding and swollen after Durham police officers slammed her head into a desk in an interview room where she was working last Friday.
Neha Chugh said the officers put their knees on her client’s back and neck, then dragged her out of the room in handcuffs and took her to the cells in the courthouse basement.
She said Riley, who is Black, also had her head scarf ripped off before she was charged with trespassing — a charge she intends to fight in court.
The incident has sparked calls from legal organizations, including the Canadian Bar Association, for an independent investigation, but the province’s police watchdog said it would not investigate the matter.
The Special Investigations Unit said it was notified of the incident by Durham regional police earlier this week but has not invoked its mandate at this time. It said its jurisdiction is limited to incidents involving officers that result in serious injuries, death, allegations of sexual assault or an officer discharging their firearm at a person.
Durham regional police have also said that the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency has been notified about the incident and the officers involved have been reassigned to duties that don’t include courthouse security.
The Durham Regional Police Association said in a statement on Friday that it is committed to a full review of the incident by an independent outside agency, adding that it “will not stand by while our members are tried in the court of public opinion by those more interested in headlines than the truth.”
President Andrew Tummonds said the police association stands “firmly” with its officers and looks forward to the facts of the investigation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2026.