A civilian oversight agency is being asked to investigate two Ontario police forces after a Toronto police officer and his brother were charged in the brutal beating of a black teen.
Lawyers representing Dafonte Miller and his family have filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director in connection with the December 2016 incident and how it was investigated.
They allege Toronto police and Durham regional police tried to cover up the attack on Miller and ``blindly'' accepted the accounts of Michael Theriault, an off-duty Toronto constable, and his brother Christian Theriault.
The province's police watchdog wasn't notified of the alleged incident until months later and has since charged the brothers with assault and other offences.
Among other things, the complaint filed with the OIPRD calls for police officers to face criminal consequences if they interfere with an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.
It is part of a broader push for police oversight made by a coalition of community and advocacy groups who say Miller's case shows the need for immediate action.