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STATEMENT: On Sunday, December 27, 2020 at approx. 7:00 pm, 5 Black young men between the ages of 16-19 were gathered in the parking lot of St.Laurent Mall with the intentions of meeting to produce and film a music video for a local artist. We were NOT filming at the mall.(1/9)
There was no intention to film on St.Laurent Centre premise and there was no active video production happening. The St.Laurent Centre was a meeting spot for the purpose of gathering to brainstorm, discuss and retreat to another location for the actual video production. (2/9)
At no time, did we brandish a BB gun prop to the public. It remained in the car at all times. The prop was intended to be used in a specific scene in the film production addressing the impacts of gun violence. While we were waiting for the videographer to arrive on scene (3/9)
— At approx. 7:20 pm, about 15+ Ottawa Police Cruisers stormed the area, pointing about 10 long rifle guns and pistols at us. I tried to videotape the scene and was stopped by an officer who pointed a gun in my face and told me to drop everything.(4/9)
We were all handcuffed, forced to lay on the ground and searched multiple times. They probed us for information, including shootings in other neighbourhoods. We all complied. They detained 6 of the 7 young men at the scene.They refused to tell us why we were being detained.(5/9)
We asked for their badge and names, which they were questioning why we needed that information. They detained me and placed me in the back seat of a police cruiser. I noticed on their computer screen that the call stated ‘’ 5 young black males in ski-masks armed’’. (6/9)
This wasn’t factual. All the young men were detained, except ONE Another black men who appeared to look caucasian. He was told to sit in the back of the car and get warmed up by an officer. He is bi-racial, but noticed in the computer system he was marked as ‘’caucasian’’. (7/9)
We were all released at the end with no wrong-doings or charges.
We believe Ottawa Police used unjust and excessive force towards us on Sunday, December 27, 2020. We are seeking accountability and calling on improvements in their deescalation towards these situations. (8/9)
We believe Ottawa Police used unjust and excessive force towards us on Sunday, December 27, 2020. We are seeking accountability and calling on improvements in their deescalation towards these situations. (8/9)
We do not understand who or why the police were called on us. We were not arrested. We were not charged. We were not in any wrong doing. “We have requested OPS to release the phone calls and video footage of the scene for transparency purposes” (9/9)
