Justice Louise Botham ruled today that Toronto Police Officer, Constable Babak Andalib-Goortani, was guilty of assault with a weapon.
The charges stem from an altercation he had with Adam Nobody (age 27) in Toronto during the G20 Summit protests in 2010.
In fact, Adam Nobody was arrested on Saturday June 26, 2010, in Queen’s Park — the designated protest zone and thus supposedly a safe space to protest. The G20 Summit rocked Toronto in late June, 2010.
Over the course of the weekend, more than 1,000 people were arrested for demonstrating against the G8 and G20 Summits.
It was the largest mass arrest in Canadian history.
Toronto Police Constable Babek Andalib-Goortani was charged on December 23, 2010 with assault with a weapon against Adam Nobody, after a lengthy fight to get him charged.
Andalib-Goortani (age 33) had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Constable Babek Andalib-Goortani — who was among the more than 90 officers caught not wearing their mandatory police identification at the time – one of many policing problems that launched numerous reviews and recommendations. Saturday June 26, 2010, was especially vicious against demonstrators.
Some blame this on the aftermath of property destruction and the burning of Toronto Police cruisers.
Adam Nobody alleged he was beaten twice during the demonstration on June 26, 2010; once during his arrest by Constable Andalib-Goortani and allegedly again as he was held in custody by two plain-clothes officers.
Only Constable Andalib-Goortani was able to be identified; again more than 90 officers illegally removed their name badges during the demonstration.
Andalib-Goortani’s lawyer, Harry Black, on cross-examination tried to get Adam Nobody to confess that he was actively attempting to resist arrest, but Adam Nobody denied this claim.
The officer’s lawyer also tried to suggest that Adam Nobody had brought a Molotov cocktail to the demonstrations. Adam Nobody responded that he had a bottle that he filled with whiskey and water, though he could not account for the trace amounts of the flammable liquid toluene also found in the bottle.
Black also attempted to get Adam Nobody to admit that he was at Queen’s Park for longer than he had suggested and that he was attempting to rile up the crowd.
Nobody also denied these accusations.
Adam Nobody himself was initially charged with obstruction of justice and assaulting a peace officer but these were later dropped. Adam Nobody and his family have launched a $14.2 million civil lawsuit against the police.
The lawsuit involves allegations that are not part of this case.
Photo: Falconer Practice Group
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