WARMINGTON: Cops get investigated when asked to be tougher on TTC

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All Toronto Police hear is they need to be tougher on the dangerous TTC subway.

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But as soon as cops make an arrest it’s the officers under scrutiny more than the suspect alleged to have roughed up and robbed a female passenger.

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“On March 26, 2024, at 11 a.m., police were called to Eglinton West subway station for an unknown trouble call after several people called 911 about a man allegedly assaulting a woman on the train and stealing her phone.”

They detained the man and charged him with robbery and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order. But, as a result of a video of the arrest posted by a passenger, it’s the officers now facing the stiffer scrutiny.

“We are aware of the incident on the video and our Professional Standards Unit is investigating,” Toronto Police said in a statement.

They have to do their job. But for the rest of the city how about a thank you to the officers who finally gave one of these alleged violators the kind of hard time so many of them deserve!

“Sometimes policing is not easy to look at,” said a Toronto Police source.

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A female victim on the subway who allegedly had her smart phone stolen. Four Toronto Police officers. One man in flip flops ranting and raving. One kick directed to the suspect’s head, one close to it and a third kick toward the midsection.

What will happen next will have to be up to policing experts. Was this appropriate use of force to assist in making an arrest? Or too excessive?

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Both opinions have been making their way around social media as fast as the video captured on a subway car Tuesday. The video shows four cops get on the train and, with the help of a passenger, identify a man who was seated but was allegedly involved in an altercation with a female passenger who’s expensive smart phone was stolen.

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“Is he there?” one officer could be heard saying.

“Yeah, he is,” said a passenger who pointed at him.

From there the four officers grabbed at the suspect’s feet, one grabbed his arms and they all pulled him to the floor of the subway car before one of the officers delivered shock and awe treatment to get him under control. After all the stabbings and murders on the subway, what are they supposed to do?

Go gentle?

And the police did show restraint once they had the man under control.

“Stop, stop, that’s enough,” said one of the officers.

The arrest was made and the man now in bare feet was arrested.

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He is not believed to have suffered any injuries. Const. Laura Brabant said the woman victim “did not sustain any injuries.”

“We cannot comment further as the Professional Standards Unit is investigating,” said Const. Shannon Eames.

Meanwhile, Oluwapelumi Ogundare, 36, of Toronto, has been charged with robbery and three counts of fail to comply with probation.

The Toronto Police Association has asked the public to not rush to judgment.

“The video is only a few seconds long and doesn’t reflect the entire interaction, including the man allegedly assaulting and robbing a female passenger on the TTC,” said TPA President Jon Reid. “We will wait for PRS to complete their investigation, and, in the meantime, we wonder why yet another person in our community is charged with multiple fail to comply charges in addition to their criminal allegations.”

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Meanwhile, there was much debate amongst officers Friday.

“Not good,” said one copper.

Another added sarcastically, “I bet it happened for no reason. Nothing beats a 14 second video.”

Well it certainly doesn’t show what happened before the police came or the concern the officer may had in determining if he and his fellow officers were facing potential risk of a deadly weapon while they were doing this takedown. For example, if the officer who kicked the suspect saw or felt or feared a knife or weapon as the takedown was occurring, it’s understandable to want to subdue this accused as quickly as possible so no one is hurt.

It’s always easier to Monday-morning quarterback but it’s much different for the officers who are there.

One can argue this one either way. Personally, as long as the man was not hurt, as a 40-year cop reporter I would not charge the officers. There have been too many people stabbed on the subway so the faster you can subdue somebody the better.

People complaining about how dangerous it is on the subway can hardly moan about a hard police takedown on someone who just allegedly robbed a female passenger. We can’t have it both ways.

The cops deserve to be supported here. And given a pat on the back!

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