BLACK YOUTH CHARGED IN MISTAKEN IDENTITY CASE TO APPEAR IN COURT NEXT MONDAY

Montréal, December 1st, 2012 --- Mr. Mark Wiles-Simpson, the 19 year-old Black youth who was arrested and charged by the Montreal Police last October in a case of mistake identity, will have to appear in court next Monday, December 3rd, 2012, at 9:00 am, in courtroom R.30 at Montreal’s Municipal Court (775 Gosford, Champs de Mars metro).

On the afternoon of October 3, 2012, Mr. Wiles-Simpson, a 19 year-old student, bumped into his 16-year old cousin while going to work at a McDonald’s in Ville St-Laurent, a West-end district of Montreal. Both youths were sitting in a park and talking when a police car arrived. A white female officer with black gloves walked towards the two youths and told the younger youth to leave. As Mr. Wiles Simpson followed, the officer jumped on him and within seconds, three more officers attacked and wrestled him to the ground. They punched and choked him, and twisted one of his legs as he lay face down. He was violently held down despite telling the officer that he worked nearby and had not done anything wrong. He was then handcuffed, pushed into a police vehicle in front of his cousin and other youths, and hauled away.

The arrest was captured on video
http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/language-warning-phone-footage-of-po...

It was only when he was forced into the police car that he was told of the reason for his arrest: that he “stole something.” Later, while still handcuffed in the car, he was told that he fit the description of a Black male who stole something at a local liquor store. He was eventually informed that he was not the suspect sought by the police, and although he would be released, he would be charged with obstruction of justice.

Mr. Wiles-Simpson is represented by lawyer Emilie Le-Huy for his defense and by CRARR for his civil rights and police ethics complaints.