To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Tori. I live with my mother here in Ottawa. On July 23, 2004, I was forcibly
confined/held against my will by a woman here in Ottawa. I was visiting my friend because my mother
let me go there and when she came to pick me up, my friend’s mother (the Woman
mentioned above) would not let me leave.
She pushed me down on the futon/couch, and held me down so that I could
not leave. I screamed and screamed to
be let go. I wanted my mother.
The police came 20 minutes
later from the time that my mother had called them. Once the police showed up, I still could not leave. I finally was able to get to my mother after
45 minutes to an hour had gone by.
The next day, Saturday July 24,
2004 at approximately 2:00pm we went to the police station and invited a
witness to attend on our behalf to ensure that our request to press charges was
taken seriously and that I indeed have the right to do so. The officer, Constable Convey, told my mother
and I that the witness wasn’t permitted to listen in and that he was not
permitted to allow us to press charges.
He stated that the case was closed and that he would make one last
attempt at gaining his superior officers' permission to keep the case file
open. He said would contact us as soon
as he gets an answer. We spent
approximately 5 hours there. At
approximately 10:00pm he called us back, and told us there was nothing he could
do to re-open the case.
Monday, July 26, 2004 we
went to Legal Aid, and the employee refused to hear us out and sent us to the
Court House for she kept insisting we needed a Family Lawyer and “shoved” us
away to the Court House to obtain legal advice, to obtain Peace Bonds as well
as to request/enforce that charges be laid against the “abductor.” We left there empty handed with a hand full
of references we went looking for legal help.
They sent us to Family Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers, and Civil
Lawyers. All that we visited said, “we
don’t take cases on of this nature, please contact…..” It has been a vicious cycle that is really
not solving this problem.
On August 5 we went to the
Court House again and we got to speak to a family lawyer and he told us to try
the police again. He said, “If the
policeman refuses to help you, you ask him to sign a paper that states that he
won’t help. If he is to refuse, you ask for the supervisor and so on until you
are talking to the Chief. If the he
won’t help, then go to the media.”
Well, my mom did leave a message for Police Chief Bevan’s
Secretary. And that was the end of
that.
It has now been two weeks
since this ordeal began. I am reaching
out to the public to raise awareness and to ask for the public support in this
case. Again, I state here, I am a victim
of a crime that was committed against me.
The following is quoted directly from section 280 of the Criminal Code.
Section 280 (1) 'Abduction of a Person Under
Sixteen' of the Canadian Criminal Code
" Every one who, without
lawful authority, takes or causes to be taken an unmarried person under the age
of sixteen years out of the possession of and against the will of the parent or
guardian of that person or of any other person having the lawful care or charge
of that person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding five years. "
Another problem here is this, the “abductor” and Constable Convey, are
connected and have a history/friendship.
As well, the “abductor’s” father is a retired policeman. All my mother did was call the police when
“the abductor” threatened her that she was not going to let me go home. My mother did the right thing to come over
to get me, but the police didn’t help us.
I screamed for a long time, and many people inside the home of the abductor
and outside (neighbours) could hear me screaming. There was no investigation, no charges were laid, and the
“police” friend is protecting his “abductor” friend right now.
This isn’t a good example that parents and policeman/women can set for kids
like me. When I need help because I am
in danger and I cannot call for myself, and my mother calls for help, police
are supposed to help, it is their jobs.
Why are they teaching kids and society that it’s ok to get away with
crime? I’m so confused. I want to share my whole story with the
media so that parents are ALERTED to protect their children at all costs,
especially when the police won’t protect them.
The Police are not interested in protecting me, and I want to know
why. This goes against section 208,
mentioned above. I have rights, and my
human rights are being infringed upon by not being permitted to press charges
against a woman that committed a crime.
As well, there may be others to press charges against, for being
accessories to this crime.
I am ready to go public with my story.
All your support will be very much appreciated.
To support this issue contact: trueheartcolumn@hotmail.com to
share your concerns and/or if you would like to help.
Thank you.