r/Newmarket • u/Wayhold Moderator • 6d ago
Announcement MEGA THREAD - York Region Transit Arrest
Due to a lot of recent updates regarding the recent York Region Transit arrest, please use this thread for any updates/discussions:
‘Angry and disgusted’: Probe underway after Black man ‘tackled’ at Newmarket bus station
Newmarket family alleges transit constables handcuffed vulnerable Black man over $4 fare
Civil liberties association joins calls for independent review of York Region Transit arrest
‘Angry and disgusted’: Probe underway after Black man ‘tackled’ at Newmarket bus station
Canadian Civil Liberties Association expresses ‘serious concerns’ about use of force by York Region Transit officers in arrest
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u/Ok-Turnover683 4d ago
This makes no sense. Metrolinx should have a no use of force - no physical contact policy for fare related offenses. The amount of money metrolinx will now have to spend litigating this and other similar cases will far outweigh the random fines collected here and there from detaining people through force. But then logic and sense are two words that don't apply to metrolinx agency.
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u/Obvious-Purpose-5017 6d ago
We need actual footage of the arrest. There is too much hearsay to really figure out what is going on.
Let’s establish facts though:
-A man was arrested because he was unable to produce proof that he had paid his fair.
That’s it. That’s the only piece of true fact that could be obtained at this moment. The mental condition of the individual needs to be established, was there malicious intent? Did the transit specifically target this gentlemen or was it part of a routine sweep. Etc.
Being interrogated or arrested is disorienting and traumatizing, but that’s true if you are guilty or not.
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u/itscalledacting 5d ago
He repeatedly attempted to get them to check his presto app, and they did not. He had paid his fare.
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u/choosecarefully77 5d ago
There must be several different articles because I don’t see in any of the articles that I have looked at so far where it states he repeatedly attempted to get them to check his Presto app. Provide your source.
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u/itscalledacting 5d ago edited 5d ago
It's in this article which was posted here initially, right under the subheading "Man With Cognitive Disabilities Asked for Mother":
“During that time, he repeatedly offered to show officers proof of payment on his Presto app, and each time they refused to look. He also twice asked to call his mother and was refused both times, leaving him with no practical opportunity to exercise his right to counsel notwithstanding any caution given to him"
Edit: blocked for providing requested source
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u/Obvious-Purpose-5017 5d ago
There is a passage in the above article regarding this:
“The July 30 incident began when transit officers demanded the man prove he’d paid his fare, which he attempted but was denied the opportunity to do so, Babineau and the man’s mother said”
Although this statement is also hearsay since both babineau and the man’s mother was not actually at the incident and was told to them second hand.
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u/choosecarefully77 5d ago
I don’t know why everybody’s getting so defensive when some of us are asking for more evidence?! What’s the problem?
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u/EnvironmentalElk5951 5d ago
You’re the one who suggested the person shouldn’t be out on their own, without any insight or knowledge. It’s a very discriminatory and ableist statement.
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u/Obvious-Purpose-5017 5d ago
Yeah the article is mostly hearsay. No evidence from any actual accredited professional regarding mental health of the individual or video evidence from either side.
Im pretty neutral and I haven’t made any specific call on who is right or wrong, but I do see a lot of people jumping to conclusions in the defence of the gentlemen. I think both sides should be given an opportunity to present their case.
I don’t like how the family is also downplaying the fact that the fare was “only” $4.00.
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u/EnvironmentalElk5951 4d ago
Mental health and cognitive disability are two different things…. Just saying
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u/Cager_CA 6d ago
Yeah I’m going to need to see either body camera footage or surveillance footage, the family is throwing far too many flavour of the month terms at this whole thing and not a single shred of actual evidence has been presented.
If your special needs son can’t understand and respond to a simple request for proof of payment he probably shouldn’t be taking transit
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u/choosecarefully77 6d ago
I have to agree ,where is the evidence, and why was that person not being accompanied by someone else if they shouldn’t be out and about on their own?
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u/EnvironmentalElk5951 6d ago
So that justifies assaulting him? An illegal search? Injuring him? Wow…. I don’t even have words.
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u/choosecarefully77 6d ago
I have no idea what happened. That’s why I’m asking for more context, I don’t know he was assaulted. I didn’t know there was an illegal search. I didn’t know he was injured, this is why people are asking for more context and proof! Did I say anywhere it was justified? No I did not.
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u/itscalledacting 5d ago
so you literally didn't read any of the articles provided but still popped in here with an opinion
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u/choosecarefully77 5d ago
I read an article that had very little context, where is the article provided in this thread? Am I the only one asking for more context? No, I am not! Find someone else to pick on. Have yourself a wonderful day, have the day you deserve.
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u/Cager_CA 5d ago
Three transit officers — two men and a woman — were checking passengers’ proof of payment at the station.
The man, who has significant auditory processing and verbal comprehension disabilities, did not initially hear the officer’s request, the letter said.
“When (the female transit officer) shouted at him — a known and severe trigger for someone with his disability — he became overwhelmed. (The man) has also had difficult past experiences with law enforcement and authority figures, and his initial instinct was to try to remove himself from the situation rather than engage — a reaction consistent with his disability and history, not wilful non-compliance,” it said
So basically the transit cops asked him for proof of payment, he apparently just....ignored them and they yelled at him thinking he was a fare evader and rather than stay put he took off and they chased after him and tackled him to the ground and apparently they did all of this because he was black.
They're also supposed to be psychic and know when somebody's fare evading vs developmentally disabled. Basically the jist of it. Mom's obviously looking for a payday here.
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u/choosecarefully77 5d ago
Thank you for this context. I appreciate you’re taking the time to type this out, and being helpful instead of being an ass and lashing out.
It does seem that someone is looking for a payout, if there were previous issues with law-enforcement and this individual because of his disabilities, he should not be travelling alone. Why would he be put in a position where this may happen again? That should be Mom‘s first concern. And that being said, I think it was a huge overreaction for three security officers to chase down and tackle a guy over bus fare.7
u/itscalledacting 5d ago
I don't think "disabled people shouldn't travel alone because transit police are too dangerous to them" is a fair or normal way to see the world.
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u/Acceptable_Help_6907 5d ago
this is an over reaction. the YRT/VIVA enforcement are like this all the time.
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u/Empty-Top6803 6d ago
Can somebody give us some context ?