An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigation has found no evidence of wrongdoing by three Toronto police officers involved in the trial of Umar Zameer, who was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Det.-Const. Jeffrey Northrup.
Zameer pleaded not guilty and was acquitted in 2024. The trial centered on whether Zameer intended to run over Northrup or was unaware of the incident as it occurred. Zameer testified that he believed he was being ambushed by criminals when officers approached his vehicle.
The OPP report, requested by Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw, concluded that the officers—Lisa Forbes, Antonio Correa, and Scharnil Pais—did not lie or collude to lie. “The OPP investigation found no evidence to support the belief that [the officers] lied or colluded to lie,” stated the report.
Physical evidence presented during the trial contradicted the defense theory, leading to significant scrutiny of the officers’ actions. The incident took place on July 1, 2021, in an underground parking garage at Toronto City Hall.
Demkiw remarked on the personal toll the trial has taken on the officers, stating, “The personal toll this process has taken on these officers has been enormous.” Meanwhile, the Toronto Police Association president, Clayton Campbell, has called for a public apology from Justice Anne Molloy, asserting, “It’s clear as day in that report, and she owes them an apology.”
Critics of the report have voiced their concerns, with lawyer Nader Hasan stating, “This report, and what the chief of police said today is an insult to Canadians [and] to Torontonians.” The OPP report found no reasonable grounds to believe that the officers committed obstruction of justice or perjury.
As the situation develops, observers are keenly awaiting further responses from the involved parties and any potential implications for the Toronto Police Service.
