An Oshawa courthouse review has concluded that there were no reasonable grounds to support criminal charges against Durham Regional Police officers accused of assaulting defence lawyer Sudine Riley during a January arrest. The finding ends the external criminal investigation conducted by York Regional Police, but it does not conclude the separate process examining whether police misconduct occurred.
The incident happened on January 23, 2026, at the Superior Court of Justice in Oshawa. Durham police arrested Riley under the Trespass to Property Act after an interaction inside the courthouse. Riley later alleged through her lawyer that officers used excessive force during the arrest.
Oshawa Courthouse Review Followed Assault Allegations
Riley’s counsel, Neha Chugh, alleged that officers slammed Riley’s head into a desk, placed knees on her back and neck, removed her head covering and dragged her from an interview room in handcuffs. Those allegations have not been proven in court or through a completed misconduct proceeding.
Durham Regional Police initially notified the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency and the Special Investigations Unit. The SIU did not invoke its mandate. After police were advised that the allegations included possible criminal conduct, DRPS formally referred the matter to York Regional Police for an external criminal investigation.
York police have now completed that investigation. According to a statement released by Durham police, investigators found no reasonable grounds in the evidence to support criminal charges against any of the officers involved.
That conclusion should be described carefully. It means the available evidence did not meet the threshold for laying criminal charges. It does not amount to a court ruling, nor does it necessarily resolve questions about officer conduct under Ontario’s policing rules.
Separate Misconduct Review Continues
Following the York police decision, the matter was referred to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency under the Community Safety and Policing Act. LECA is Ontario’s independent civilian body responsible for receiving, managing and overseeing public complaints involving police officers and police services.
The agency’s review will consider whether misconduct occurred, which is a different question from whether there were reasonable grounds for criminal charges. Durham police said the service will cooperate fully with the process. No completion date for LECA’s review was included in the public update.
DRPS said it remains committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining public confidence in policing and courthouse security.
The current update does not identify the officers involved or provide a final outcome for the Trespass to Property Act matter involving Riley.
