Crown withdraws charges against Pro-Palestinian protester accused of assaulting Toronto officer

The Crown has withdrawn all charges against a Pro-Palestinian protester who was accused of assaulting a Toronto Police officer during a Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) rally a year ago today in the city’s downtown core.

Adam Melanson was facing charges of assaulting a peace officer and obstructing a police officer after he was accused of shoving an officer, who suffered injuries when he fell from the push.

Video later surfaced showing officers pinning Melanson to the ground, with one officer seen pushing his knee into Melanson’s neck area, sparking concerns about excessive use of force.

On Tuesday, Melanson said he had been “vindicated” after all charges against him had been withdrawn.

Despite the Crown saying there was a “reasonable prospect of conviction,” it chose to close the matter by saying Melanson demonstrated “accountability for his actions.”

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) said Melanson “fulfilled specific conditions outlined by the Crown, including completion of a course in non-violent communication, a donation to charity, as well as successful completion of a significant amount of community service hours.”

“This resolution reflects accountability for the actions Mr. Melanson took during the December 2023 incident and highlights the serious consequences of violence against those who serve and protect our communities,” TPS said in a statement to The Leader Spirit.

Accused says he was defending wife

During a news conference on Tuesday following the Crown’s decision to withdraw charges, Melanson spoke to reporters to give his side of the story.

He maintains he was trying to defend his wife when the incident in question occurred.

“My wife was knocked to the ground by a Toronto police officer,” he said. “When I attempted to intervene in what I perceived to be an assault on her, I was arrested. Although I did not resist arrest in any way, multiple officers used force against me.”

Melanson said one officer violently pulled on his thumb while another “slammed his knee on my head,” knocking his glasses off.

“He hit my head again and again on the pavement while another officer punched my rib area. The whole time, I was screaming in pain.

“When I felt the officer’s knee on my neck, I thought I was going to die.”

He says he suffered a concussion from the incident, which impacted his sleep and ability to work.

Alok Mukherjee, a human rights advocate and the former chair of the TPS Board, told The Leader Spirit last year that he was stunned by the video of the incident, saying it showed concerning police actions.

“It’s not clear from the video exactly where the officer’s knee was placed, but certainly, it was above the shoulders, somewhere in the neck and head area. Both of which are deeply problematic,” said Mukherjee.

TPS denied that the officer knelt on his neck.

“On review of available footage of this matter, we maintain that the officer did not place his knee on the suspect’s neck,” a police spokesperson said in a statement last December.

“This was a sudden and unexpected event during a demonstration. During dynamic situations, officers are trained to use the amount of force necessary to render a situation safe for all involved.”

With files from Lucas Casaletto and Shauna Hunt