POLICE IN ALEXANDRA PARK BEAT, PEPPER SPRAY, AND ARREST YOUTH - Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP)

J Michael Rosales' Charges Must be Dropped!

Last February 14 Division police officers began a campaign of brutality against youth of colour in the Alexandra Park Co-Op. A number of youth were beaten, illegally detained, intimidated and charged.

This began after a plainclothes police officer was allegedly assaulted in the area after making racist remarks. In the days and weeks following, the cops kidnapped and beat one youth who the police deny ever having in custody. Another youth was arrested at a Community Press Conference speaking-out against the police violence. J Michael Rosales and his family had their home invaded, windows smashed-in, and door broken down by officers of 14 division. Rosales, seventeen-years-old at the time, was beaten badly and pepper sprayed. The police have failed to offer any explanation for this home invasion. It was only when Rosales went to file a complaint about the brutality that he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and belonging to a gang. The police allege that he was seen on video, involved in the earlier supposed assault on the plainclothes officer. The police have never provided this video as disclosure.

Rosales was released on bail under house arrest, then curfew and bail conditions that give police the power of arrest if he associates with other youth. The family has now installed metal bars on the windows of their home to protect them from the police. J Michael Rosales is still facing charges.

These charges are unfounded and are clearly another racist police attack. Please call the Crown Attorney before J Michael Rosales' pre-trial on November 5, 2004 and urge that the charges immediately be dropped.

Paul Culver, Senior Crown

Crown Attorney's Office

361 University Avenue

TORONTO, Ontario

M5G 1T1

Fax - (416) 327-6056

or fax copies to OCAP at (416) 925-9681

For more information or to help support J Michael Rosales call OCAP at 416-925-6939 or email us at ocap@tao.ca