August 26 Toronto Plainclothes […]

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When

1980-08-26

Description

August 26 Toronto Plainclothes policemen arrested five men in a late-night raid in David Balfour Park, during which Constable Richard Dionne discharged his revolver three times into the ground. Seven other men escaped. The men were taken to 53 Division, where they were charged with gross indecency and committing an indecent act. On August 28, 1980, the Toronto Sun reported the names, ages, and home addresses of the accused. On October 30, 1980, Prof. John Alan Lee, chair of the RTPC, presented a brief before the Metropolitan Board of Commissioners of Police stating that gays having sex in city parks were treated much more harshly than heterosexuals in the same position, and that police were failing to distinguish between a crime and a nuisance. (See also November 17, 1980.)

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November 17 Ottawa Three justices of […]August 25 Toronto Two plainclothes […]

All Places

David Balfour Park Toronto

All People

Alan Lee Richard Dionne

All Organizations

Metropolitan Board of Commissioners of Police, Metropolitan Police Commission December 9th Defence Fund, Right to Privacy Committee (RTPC)

All Periodicals

Toronto Sun

All Citations

"The Ravine Caper: RTPC Takes Action," Action: The Right to Privacy Committee Newsletter, November 1980, p. 1."News You Can Use!" Action: The Right to Privacy Committee Newsletter, October 1980, p. 1 "Cops Picking on Gay Lovers: Prof.," Toronto Sun, 31 October 1980, p. 4 "Cop Fires Gun in Gay Bust," Toronto Sun, 28 August 1980, p. 5 Chris Bearchell, "Shoot-up in David Balfour Park: Cops Use Bullets to Arrest Five," Body Politic, no. 67 (1980), p. 13 Chris Bearchell, "Cops Say Gun Report Due After Park Trials," Body Politic, no. 68 (1980), p. 16

Graph Legend

Richard Dionne

Names

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