Police launch investigation after Toronto radio host arrested

ABOVE: Radio host arrested after taking photos of fire. Lama Nicolas reports. 

TORONTO – Toronto police have opened an internal investigation after a radio host claimed he was wrongfully arrested while taking photos of a crime scene earlier this year.

Newstalk 1010 host John Down said the incident happened on January 18, 2013 when he was returning home after having a few drinks.

“I got there, I was taking a couple of pictures, and someone who was working for Toronto Fire came up to me. Took some issue with me taking photos,” he said in an interview.

Down said that when he didn’t leave, a fire crew member called a nearby police officer to intervene.

“Within a second my phone was being pulled, banged out of my hand,” said Downs. “I heard him call police over and within a second or two I was on the ground, face first, my hands were being cuffed.”

Down said he was taken to 14 Division for assault and intoxication, the former charge was dropped.

He also spent the night at the station before being release the following morning.

The radio host also had the intoxication charge dropped a few months later after a court appearance.

Down said he’s going public with his story because the incident could have happened to anyone.