Lawsuit filed against Waterloo Regional Police over racial profiling
Posted May 23, 2019 08:45:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Waterloo Regional Police Constable Jesse Foster is being accused of improper conduct surrounding an arrest that took place in 2017.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that Natasha Broomes is claiming $700,000 in damages following her traumatic experience.
She claims that she was falsely identified or believed to be associated with a wanted man that was said to be driving a red Ford SUV and in possession of a gun.
Foster allegedly followed her as she drove her burgundy Pontiac Torrance home, at which point he approached her and arrested her.
During the course of the arrest, he is said to have used excessive force.
Foster cited her failure to identify herself as the reason for arrest, but Broomes claims that none of this would have occurred had she been Caucasian.
A police watchdog organization released a report on the incident in December.
“An investigation by the Office of the Independent Police Review Board (OIPRD) found that Foster exercised his authority by arresting Ms. Broomes unlawfully or unnecessarily, used force against Ms. Broomes unnecessarily, and failed to treat Ms. Broomes equally.”
Waterloo Regional Police have since released a statement on the lawsuit and OIPRD report.
“The Waterloo Regional Police Service takes all complaints and allegations against its members very seriously. The Office of the Independent Review Director (OIPRD) has ordered a directed hearing on this matter; no date has yet been set. In respect for the pending judicial process, no comment can be issued at this time.”
570 NEWS has also reached out to Broomes' lawyer for comment.
