TVO documentary features Hamilton family wrongfully targeted in police raid Pamela Markland settled lawsuit with Toronto and Hamilton police last year
Pamela Markland finally has a peaceful home to call her own, several hours outside Hamilton, where she’s working to heal her family.
By Nicole O’Reilly Spectator Reporter Friday, May 22, 2020
It has been a long journey for the single mother since her world was turned on its head on the morning of Dec. 13, 2011. That’s when police burst into her Roxborough Avenue townhouse as part of a series of pre-dawn raids led by Toronto police targeting drug dealers.
But in Markland’s case, the 5 a.m. raid was a mistake — instead of drug dealers they found children. Markland was downstairs with her then nine-year-old son Isaiah, who has autism. Five of her daughters slept upstairs.
Markland’s story, which has been covered since the beginning by The Spectator, is featured in the documentary, “The Arrest,” by Martin Himel, premièring on TVO May 26 at 9 p.m. It follows lawyer Davin Charney and several clients as they fight for justice after being wrongly arrested.
In Markland’s case, the film not only focuses on the trauma her family experienced during the botched raid, but also the ripple effects afterwards. Markland was quick to speak out, but also found that some didn’t believe her. Some turned their backs on her, and her children found themselves turned down for jobs or apartments.
In 2012, Markland sued Toronto and Hamilton police, launching a tiresome legal battle that is followed through the film.
Last December, eight years to the day after the raid, Markland and Charney stood outside Hamilton police headquarters and announced that the lawsuit had been settled.
The terms of the lawsuit are confidential, but the payment is what allowed Markland to finally settle in her new home.
One detail revealed by Charney is that the bad intelligence that led to Markland’s home being falsely targeted was supplied by former Hamilton police detective Craig Ruthowsky. The disgraced former guns and gangs detective is out on bail while he appeals his conviction and 13-year sentence for bribery, attempt to obstruct justice, criminal breach of trust and trafficking cocaine.
Markland said she’s happy the documentary is airing and doesn’t regret speaking out.
“I want other people to know, you don’t have to just take it, especially if you know you’re not in the wrong,” she said.
It was a difficult journey. Even some family seemed to doubt her, and the stress challenged relationships with her children. When the raid first happened, Markland said she found herself talking to everyone about it because she was so upset — from a taxi driver, to strangers in the grocery store.
The fear was so many “what ifs” — things that could have gone wrong during the raid, especially with her special-needs son who would run. She also wondered what would happen to her children if she hadn’t been capable of keeping the fight going against police and their lawyers for years and years.
But now with time and distance and a safe place to call home, Markland said she’s feeling strong.
“I’m glad I spoke up … looking back I’m proud of myself for what I did,” she said.
Nicole O’Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: [email protected]