Toronto police officers charged with manslaughter

Four Toronto police officers have been charged with manslaughter in connection with the beating death of a 55-year-old man this summer.

The officers appeared at a packed courthouse in Toronto Wednesday morning. They were greeted by supportive members of the police force.

Constables Rob Lemaitre, Phil Duncan, Nam Le and Felipo Bevilacqua were released on bail and ordered to appear again Nov. 23. One of the conditions attached to their release is they have to surrender their passports.

Otto Vass died Aug. 9 after a confrontation with police outside a convenience store. Officers had been called to investigate a report of a dispute between two men.

Witnesses told reporters Vass was beaten even though he didn't make any moves. They said two officers were talking to Vass when another officer suddenly pushed him to the ground.

Police reports suggested Vass started the conflict by punching an officer in the face.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a civilian agency that investigates deaths or assaults by police officers, looked at footage from a security camera, interviewed witnesses and spoke with eight officers who arrived after the incident.

The manslaughter charges mark the second time in the 10-year history of the SIU that it's laid a manslaughter charge against a Toronto police officer.

All of the officers charged are recent recruits. The most experienced of the group has been on the force for about four years.

The Toronto police union is not happy with the decision to lay the manslaughter charges. Craig Bromell, head of the Toronto Police Association, says city officers are angry and confused by the charges.