TORONTO — An on-the-ground police commander at the Toronto G20 protests in 2010 says he told command headquarters that not everyone boxed in by officers was a demonstrator.
Retired Insp. Norn Miles told a police hearing into the actions of Supt. David (Mark) Fenton that he advised headquarters he had let a few bystanders out of the "kettling" area by pretending to arrest them.
But he says he was told over radio not to do that, and didn't seek permission to let more people out despite telling command that not everyone was a protester.
Miles says he didn't know who he was speaking to on the radio but was told to "maintain the line" fencing in more than 260 people on Sunday June 27, 2010.
He says, however, that he didn't speak with Fenton, the most senior police officer charged in the mass arrests during the meeting of global leaders.
Fenton has pleaded not guilty to a total of five charges under the Police Services Act of unlawful arrest and discreditable conduct stemming from two "kettling'' incidents that occurred over the G20 summit weekend.
