The family of Rodger Kotanko has launched a wrongful death suit against Toronto Police
In a civil suit filed against Toronto police, the family alleges police unlawfully executed a search warrant and used excessive force when they shot and killed the 70-year-old on November 3rd.
In the Statement of Claim filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Kotanko’s family is seeking $23 million in damages from the Toronto Police Services Board, five officers, including the officer who fired the fatal shots, as well as Inspector Norman Proctor, head of the Gun & Gang Task Force and Police Chief James Ramer.
The suit alleged that the search warrant was unlawfully executed, as it was not presented the day of the raid and was obtained using irrelevant and prejudicial information.
It’s also alleged that police recklessly targeted Kotanko, negligently planned the raid, and exercised excessive and unjustifiable force when they stormed his home workshop on Port Ryerse Road, firing four shots into him.
It continues to say that the officers unlawfully detained and restrained Kotanko’s wife and prevented her from providing him with comfort after he was shot and was dying.
The search warrant executed by Toronto police alleges that two handguns seized in Toronto and North Bay last year contained serial numbers that were “professionally” removed, and that once restored, could be traced to Kotanko’s business.