The owners of Spadina Avenue after-hours club the Comfort Zone are suing the Toronto Police Service and former police chief Bill Blair, according to a January 3 report in the Toronto Star.
Citing “abuse of power,” the $23 million suit alleges the cops set out to shut down the venue following a 2008 raid sparked by the overdose death of 26-year-old Adam Fazio, who’d visited the club hours before he died.
In a statement of claim, the owners accuse the police of destroying video surveillance equipment and electronics and keeping patrons and staff handcuffed for up to five hours. They also allege officers have “generally intimidated” patrons more than 50 times over eight years.
In a statement of defence, the police denied the allegations, which have not been proven in court, and asked for the suit to be dismissed.
Last May, an Ontario Municipal Board ruling paved the way for a developer to demolish the Comfort Zone and Waverley Hotel to build a 15-storey tower.
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