Family of black man killed by Peel police sues members of force

By News Staff

Members of Black Lives Matter protested the death of Jermaine Carby at a Peel police station on Wednesday, as his family announced it was taking legal action against police.

“I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win,” the group chanted.

“I know that we will win! I know that we will win,” they continued.

Carby, 33, was shot and killed by a Peel police officer after the car he was in was pulled over near Kennedy Road North and Queen Street East around 10 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2014.

Police said after the car was pulled over, Carby began threatening officers with a large knife.

Const. Ryan Reid discharged his gun seven times. Three of the bullets struck Carby — one in the chest, one in the forearm and one in the back.

His family alleges officers engaged in racial profiling and were motivated by racial prejudice.

They are seeking at least $12 million in damages in the suit filed against the Peel regional police chief, a number of officers and the force’s board.

Carby’s death highlighted issues with the controversial police practice of street checks, known as “carding,” which critics say disproportionately target young black, brown and indigenous men and women.

During the protest, Carby’s cousin La Tanya Grant called for an overhaul of the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and for a meeting with police chief Jennifer Evans. The director of the SIU, Tony Loparco, had ruled the killing was in self-defence and no charges were laid.

Jermaine Carby inquest

Const. Jason Senechal told an inquest earlier this year that he had pulled over the vehicle due to drunk driving concerns. Carby was the passenger in the vehicle.

Senechal said he asked for Carby’s identification for carding purposes.

That incident of carding started a chain reaction that led to Carby’s death, Senechal admitted on the stand.

On Wednesday, the crowd chanted that “Black lives, they matter here. Jermaine, you matter here,” inside the police station.

With files from The Canadian Press


Related stories:

Officer who shot Jermaine Carby says he was scared for his life
Police shooting of Jermaine Carby began with carding, officer testifies
Carby inquest jury recommendations include de-escalation training


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