The video was released by Jason E. Bogle, the lawyer representing the Korchinski-Paquet family, during a press conference Wednesday afternoon announcing a $ 10 million civil lawsuit over her death.
In a statement filed Monday, the Ontario Attorney General’s Office, the City of Toronto, the Toronto Community Housing, SIU Director Joseph Martino and five Toronto police officers who responded to the incident were named as defendants. .
Korchinski-Paquet died after falling from a balcony on May 27, 2020, while Toronto police officers, who were called to her High Park Avenue apartment by Korchinski-Paquet, her mother and brother, who called 911 following a family quarrel.
The SIU, which is investigating incidents involving police that resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or firearm dismissal, found no reason to blame the officers who responded.  She said that despite the first allegations that she was pushed, Korchinski-Paquet was alone on the balcony when she fell.
“We have filed a claim describing that the report made by Joseph Martino was sadly inaccurate in relation to the events that the family remembers happened that day,” Bogl said.  “Furthermore, it is our position that the events of that day do not align with the videotapes of police officer Weddell’s aggressive behavior against Mrs Korchinski-Paquette, just minutes before her death.”
The video, which he played during the press conference, begins with the arrival of an officer, whom Bogle identified as Officer Weddell, on the 24th floor of the building where Korchinski-Paquet’s residence was located.
In the video, Weddell is seen with a firearm, which appears to be a shotgun.  He then appears to be carrying it on his back as he walks towards the unit.
The video of the moments leading up to the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet is shown in this image.  (Jason E. Bogle)
Bogle said that before Wendell and another officer arrived, three officers, who had already responded, had called that there were no security concerns.
Wendell then allegedly behaved “aggressively” when he arrived at the unit, grabbing Korczynski-Pake and pulling her to the ground, Bogle said.
Shortly afterwards, Korchinski-Paquet was allowed to re-enter her unit.  Three police officers, including Wendell, also entered her apartment, Bogle said, noting that officers were inside for about a minute.
The video goes off when police officers appear to be moving away from the unit.  Bogle pointed out that Wendell’s gun was no longer in the same position as before, adding that according to police records, Wendell pulled it out while inside the Kortzinski-Pake unit.
The video surveillance of the moments after the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet is shown in this picture.  (Jason E. Bogle)
“And so, in essence, our position is that the information excluded from Mr Martino’s report was sadly inaccurate and misleading and did not provide any logical explanation for how and why Miss Korchinski-Paquet was on the balcony at the time.” , said Bogle.  .  In the statement of claim, she stated that the presence of Weddell’s weapon and the failure of the officers’ regular de-escalation contributed to her death.
Bogle also accused Wendell and the other officers of conspiring to “create a narrative that was inaccurate” in order to deceive the family and the public.
Bogle added that the SIU report also did not align with information received from a citizen who was not questioned by police.
He claimed that the citizen was on a video call with Korchinski-Paquet for 20 seconds shortly after she and the officers returned to the apartment unit.
“The witness noted that the phone call was terminated and that her additional attempts to reconnect were terminated on Ms Korchinski-Paquet’s cell phone. All attempts to reconnect the call and find the phone failed miserably,” Bogle said.
She added that her phone was not secure as part of the SIU investigation.
In a statement to CP24, a SIU spokesman confirmed that he had been notified of the action.
“The unit has no comment on matters before the court other than to say it insists on the integrity of its investigation,” the spokesman said.
Regis Korchinski-Paquet appears in this undated photo.  (Source: Facebook)

REQUIREMENTS FOR BALCONY FENCE WERE IGNORED

The family is suing the city and the TCHC for allegedly failing to erect a fence on the balcony of the Korchinski-Paquet despite numerous requests.
Bogle said Korchinski-Paquet and her mother had asked the TCHC to install security fencing all these years, but these requests “were not granted and ignored.”
“The city of Toronto has a long history and the understanding of the TCHC has been abandoned in its responsibilities to respond to residents’ requests to maintain their property,” Bogl added.
A city spokesman said they would not comment on the matter but would respond through the courts.
A public memorial and walk for justice was held to honor Regis Korchinski-Paquet who fell to her death from a balcony while police were in her Toronto apartment on Saturday, July 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Carlos Osorio

OIRPD JUDICIAL EXAMINATION

Bogle said he has also applied for a judicial review of the OIPRD Office’s decision not to prosecute Toronto police officers.
The OIRPD is a civilian service that handles all public complaints about police in the province.
The family filed a complaint with the OIRPD in November 2020 and the agency published its findings in September 2021.
Bogle said OIRPD’s findings “fell short of their standards”.  He noted that a judicial review is scheduled for October.
“Our judicial review and statement of claim will seek to reveal additional information about what happened that day in Regis, what happened on Ms Korchinski-Paquet’s cell phone and why these members of the Toronto Police Department failed on Ms Kaczynski. Paquette on May 27th.  2020 », he said.