Peel Regional Police are investigating allegations that as many as 14 officers beat up two Erin Mills men who were videotaping them drinking alcohol and partying behind a plaza.
Richard Cimpoesu, 24, and Orlando Canizalez, 20, claim they were chased and punched in the head and body in the early morning hours of Aug. 28, after several off-duty officers who were allegedly drinking beer and acting rowdy behind the Ethan Allen furniture store on Dundas St. W. caught the men videotaping them.

The men sustained severe bruising to their stomachs and heads from the alleged attack. They also claim they were threatened by the officers to tell them where the camera was and to turn it over. Police didn't find the video camera, and the two men later recovered it in nearby bushes, they said.

None of the allegations have been proven.

Cimpoesu said yesterday he's fearful of repercussions.

"I'm upset. You don't expect this kind of thing to happen. We went out there. We didn't mean any harm. We didn't expect the people that are supposed to protect us would come after us," said Cimpoesu, a St. Joseph Secondary School graduate. "I'm scared. I can't walk down the street without having to look if police are after me."

A police spokesperson said the Peel police internal affairs unit is investigating the alleged assault, but he refused to verify the video or provide any other specifics.

"All we are able to say about this is that an incident involving several off-duty officers is being investigated by our professional standards branch," said Peel Cst. Pete Brandwood. "We unfortunately can't say anything else because it might jeopardize the integrity of the investigation."

The two good friends took it upon themselves to gather video footage after several residents complained about "wild parties" and disturbances in the area.

"They decided before they would make a complaint, they would have some evidence because they didn't think anything would be done without having some proof," said William Bain, lawyer for the men.

As a result of their actions, said Bain, the men were discovered and allegedly assaulted and threatened.

"From the pictures that we took, it's apparent they were struck in the head and the body a number of times," said Bain. "The threats were significant enough to cause my clients concern, and to cause them to have an ongoing fear of the police."

Bain and his clients allege the men were assaulted because they wouldn't give up the videotape and they wouldn't identify themselves initially. They were released with a warning from the officers, they claim.

"My clients haven't been charged with an offence. They haven't done anything wrong," said Bain. "They were endeavouring to gather evidence to make a valid complaint and they were set upon by these people, and they were chased, assaulted, threatened and are traumatized by what was done to them. Our (allegation) is they (the officers) went way overboard."

Bain didn't rule out a civil suit.

Both men were to be interviewed yesterday by police.

Canizalez, an Erindale Secondary School graduate, said he still has faith in police.

"A few bad apples shouldn't spoil the rest of them," he said.

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
Party-gate investigation underway

The Mississauga News
Sep 21, 2006

Peel Regional Police investigators were in an Erin Mills parking lot yesterday taking photos after neighbours complained that off-duty officers are holding wild late-night drinking parties there.

Peel Const. Pete Brandwood has confirmed internal affairs is probing the allegations. Because as many as 20 officers are alleged to be among the partiers, he added, the investigation will take a while.

Meanwhile, Richard Cimpoesu and Orlando Canizalez allege that as many as 14 officers roughed them up on Aug. 28 after they took a camcorder and videotaped a wild party. They taped the proceedings as they hid in the bushes beside the parking lot.

The scene is located near the 11 Division police station.

Cimpoesu said the partiers were very loud that night.

"I couldn't believe what I saw," Cimpoesu told The Globe and Mail. "That's why I got my video camera. (But) I didn't expect a confrontation."

Lawyer Bill Bain has sent a letter of complaint to Police Chief Mike Metcalf Cimpoesu on behalf of his clients.

When they were spotted by the partiers, Cimpoesu said, several men chased them down and demanded they turn over the videotape. Canizalez said he had tossed the camera into some trees as he ran away. He retrieved the tape later.

Several neighbours told The Globe and Mail they heard people screaming and swearing as late as 3 a.m. Some have said such impromptu field parties take place regularly in that location.

The video taken by the two Mississauga men clealry depicts men and women drinking beer. You can make out their faces and car licence plates.