Lawsuit filed against officers for Creba police sweep

A lawsuit has been filed against Toronto police by the mother of a man who was arrested at the same time as eight others were taken into custody for the Boxing Day shooting that killed 15-year-old Jane Creba.

Richard Steele was one of 25 people arrested June 13 during a police sweep.

Eight of them face manslaughteror murder charges, while 17 others, including Steele, were charged with a variety of drug, weapons and assault charges.

Firearms and narcotics related charges were laid against 19-year-old Steele.

A lawsuit launched by lawyer Selwyn Pieters on behalf of Steele's mother, Valarie, accuses three police officers of abuse of process, false arrest and conspiracy to injure.

The lawsuit claims that nothing was found during a search of Steele's home to link him to the Boxing Day shooting.

A news release sent out by police listed all 25 suspects as facing charges in connection with the Creba shooting.

Creba was killed and six other bystanders were injured by stray bullets during a gang-related shootout in downtown Toronto on Dec. 26, 2005.

Three people each face a second-degree murder charge and six counts of attempted murder in connection with the killing. Five others face manslaughter charges.

The shooting capped a year that saw a record 52 shooting-related deaths in the city and came in the middle of a heated federal election campaign, resulting in calls for measures to crack down on gun crime.