You might find this interesting, even though it's Canadian
 

The former Attorney General of Ontario, now also the former head of a Toronto government department to promote the city, recently got in an altercation with an off the clock bicycle courier while driving in downtown Toronto. The bike courier is dead and the former AG has been charged with "criminal negligence causing death" and "dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death." The first charge carries a possible life sentence and the second is up to 14 years in prison.

This is the former AG who spearheaded our recent racing and stunting legislation (vehicle seizure and license suspension for a week at the roadside), a 3 day suspension (without having your day in court) for blowing in the 'warn range' for alcohol (0.05 to 0.08), and the ban on breeding of 'pitbulls and pitbull-like dogs.' He is best known for a press conference in which he shouted, "Racers; we will crush your cars! We will crush the parts!"

Bryant's custody stay rapped
STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR
Former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant enters police Traffic Headquarters on Hanna Road, Sept. 1, 2009.


Click black triangle to enlarge and scroll

The black suit, baby blue dress shirt and striped lime green tie had already been dropped off at the station before Staff Sgt. Brian Bowman began his shift at 4:30 a.m.

"I've never seen anybody bring a suit – personally – in my 28 years," Bowman said yesterday, when asked if that was unusual.

After spending the night in a police station holding cell, former attorney general Michael Bryant was released around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday without appearing before a judge. He looked tired, but polished, wearing appropriate attire for his news conference outside the station.

Critics claim Bryant – who yesterday quit his chief executive job at Invest Toronto and said he's "innocent of the very serious accusations" – got the VIP treatment.

"Everyone else would have appeared unshaven and dishevelled in bail court, everyone – unless you're a cop, or you're an important politician," said veteran defence lawyer Edward Sapiano yesterday.

But Bryant was not sent to bail court; he was released on his own recognizance and allowed to go home directly from the police traffic services division in Liberty Village. The 43-year-old is being charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. His first court date is not until Oct. 19.

Bowman, who was in charge of the station much of the time Bryant was in custody, says he was absolutely treated differently – but for good reason.

"It is a complex case. Every person's circumstances are different and they deserve to be treated fairly. It's not black and white," he said.

Bryant probably spent more time in a cell than the average person, because investigators had trouble on the court side of things, due to potential conflict of interest with prosecutors.

"We had to find a Crown that was willing to consult on it," said Sgt. Tim Burrows.

Luckily, prominent B.C. lawyer Richard Peck was already in Brampton attending a meeting dealing with the prosecution of OPP Sgt. Michael Rutigliano. Peck met with Toronto police at Old City Hall provincial court Tuesday morning to discuss what the appropriate charges might be.

On Monday around 9:30 p.m., Bryant and his wife were driving along Bloor St. when they were involved in a "minor" incident with a cyclist. Witnesses allege the cyclist, Darcy Allan Sheppard, chased Bryant and grabbed hold of the driver's side door. Police allege Bryant took off, crossed into the oncoming lane and mounted the curb, dragging the cyclist along. Sheppard eventually fell between 50 and 100 metres down the road, after he struck a mailbox and a tree, witnesses say. He died later.

Investigators considered a range of possibilities – from letting Bryant off completely all the way up to manslaughter.

Homicide detectives were brought in for support. As was the elite intelligence unit, who is called in to handle cases involving VIPs – a police classification for high-profile residents or visitors.

Burrows said the unit was involved for technical reasons – they can convert encrypted surveillance footage so it can be viewed on regular computers.

Several high-ranking police officials also noted that this was going to be a case examined under a microscope. Bryant has reportedly commissioned a parallel investigation of the events, including his own forensics team, some officers have been told.

"This is a guy with resources. He's one of the best legal minds in the country. Everyone was just taking their time to make sure things were done right," said one official.

Burrows said each arrest is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. "This is not the first time where we've had a person killed in a motor vehicle collision where we've released the accused in the exact same circumstances with similar or the same charges," he said. "When we deal with the releases, that comes right from the Criminal Code."

Once an accused has been identified and all possible evidence has been gathered, and if they are not a threat to the public and investigators are confident the person will go to court, they must be released.

Defence lawyer David Midanik said bringing fresh clothes to a police station for an accused is a little unusual. "I think your average street criminal would not be given that indulgence.

"He was definitely treated less harshly than most people charged with that offence," Midanik added.

Lawyer Joseph Neuberger, who handles many motor vehicle cases, said he did not find Bryant's treatment unreasonable, although it may have been unusual considering there was a death in the case.

On his release from a police station, he said, "No doubt, who he is and what position he had in the community played a factor. He is a former attorney-general, member of the provincial legislature. He's a lawyer. He's well-respected, a contributing member of the community. I'm sure that was a factor. I don't think that's a bad thing."

Lawyer Jonathan Rosenthal speculated his release might have been dictated by practical considerations, because all the provincial Crowns, judges and justices of the peace likely to deal with the case were appointed by provincial attorneys-general.

As far as the suit and the shave, Staff Sgt. Bowman has a simple answer:

"Like everyone, he had the opportunity to use the washroom before leaving for whatever purposes he wanted."

They're going to love his butthole in the slammer!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1271489/

This is the same politician who introduced the pit bull ban, and was part of the new Ontario Street Racing law.

I say throw the book at the fucker.

Bryant has hired one of the best PR firms in the country to deal with the fallout of this. I don't know whether it's their doing or not, but a pretty good job is being done to demonize the cyclist at this point. He had something like 62 charges pending in Alberta, relating to passing fraudulent cheques. He had been in rehab (alcoholism) 4 days prior. He'd been drinking and had a run-in with police an hour or two earlier.

Then, of course, we have that Bryant was celebrating his anniversary with his wife prior to the altercation. While police have said that alcohol was not a factor, you have to wonder a bit.

He is going to get off scott free. Seen it happen to my own family.

I have little doubt of that. My only real question is if he is going to get off because he's actually innocent of the charges. If the courier went nuts and attacked him then he did pretty much what I would have done, while strapped into a seat in a car.

They've found some video of the incident on security cameras in the area, but only one short piece has been shown. it tells nothing substantial.

First it was a PR firm, and now it's shopping for PI firms to perform a 'parallel investigation' :skep:

I saw the speech that cocksucker gave when he brought out the impound/street racing rules. I was hoping someone woulda shot him then, but no such luck.

I have no doubt he will get off scot free. :(

Probably with a big raise on taxpayer money.

Well he already resigned so it would have to be a new, higher paying job.

Dont bet against it...

There have been rumours flying around for a while now that he wants to be Premier.

King McSquinty will probably appoint him to a position.

I'll have to check the cycling forums. Well, they assume every bicyclists is innocent and any motorvehicle on the roadway is invading their roads but should be interesting.

I don't trust anyone who champions laws about street racing, sex offenders, or drunk driving. Most of the time, they don't actually care about the issue, and are just using it to make themselves look like a go-getter.

Right. Especially when they want to create a "new much needed law", because "the existing laws aren't adequate."

So the result is that he skated. It didn't go to trial.

Suprise suprise.

Why not?

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crim...-bryant-s-life

Actually it was the right thing to do. Since originally posting about this issue I came into some information regarding the cyclist. He had many previous run-ins with drivers. He was a serious drunk with a temper problem. As much as I would have liked to see Bryant made to experience the full extent of the justice system he feels is too good for some people, especially after hearing his gratitude for how well our system works with respect to 'innocent until proved guilty', this isn't something that he should own.

It didn't go to trial because there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction." In other words the evidence tended to support Bryant's story; not completely, but enough that they could never convict.

I'm I the only one who reads this with his bullshit flag fully raised?

"Bryant came to a red light between Bay St. and Avenue Rd., where traffic had narrowed to a single lane both ways because of construction. Sheppard, Bryant told investigators, cycled past his car on the driver’s side and then cut in front of the vehicle, stopping directly in front of the Saab.

Bryant hit the brakes and the car stalled. Attempts to get the car started again caused it to lurch forward. There appeared to be no contact between the car and Sheppard’s bike but the cyclist was livid and he was already yelling at Bryant.

He told police afterward he was in a state of panic when, restarting the vehicle, it accelerated unintentionally, shockingly, causing Sheppard to land on the hood. Bryant hit the brakes. Only 2.5 seconds elapsed from the time the vehicle started its forward motion and when it came to a halt, having travelled a total of about 30 feet. At this point, Sheppard was not seriously injured, said Peck.

The guy cuts him off on his bike....Mr. Big Shot takes offense...and "accidentally" lurches his car forward 30 feet while trying to re-start it knocking the bicyclist onto the hood? I'm not buying it....not even a little bit.

That entire article is a hatchet job...spin bought and paid for by Mr. Big Shot to save face...make HIM look like the victim.

Just another example of how having money ensures that you have access to a "different" type of "justice" than what most people face.

This occurred after the initial incident that sparked the confrontation. I also smell bovine feces and think that Bryant did a short charge to try and scare Sheppard into getting out of the way, but from the video I've seen it looks like he tried to go around the cyclist after that.

Sounds like a horrid mixture.......A lime green tie with a light blue shirt? Whatever works for him I guess. :scratch: