Ontario's Policing Crisis

Ontario's Policing Crisis: When Truth Becomes Optional and False Allegations Go Unpunished

The alarming case of David Menzies' arrest exposes a dangerous loophole in Ontario's justice system—and why reform is long overdue.

▶️ Watch the full incident (Rebel News, Dec 14, 2023):

ARRESTED: LCBO manager calls police after being served court papers

I. Introduction: A Society Turning on Itself

When police are used not to protect the public but to settle personal scores, we are no longer a society governed by law—we are a society governed by who can manipulate the law more effectively. This is precisely what happened in November 2022, when Rebel News journalist David Menzies attempted to serve legal documents to an LCBO manager and was arrested after a false allegation of assault—despite the entire interaction being recorded on video.

The fallout from this incident highlights a critical failure in Ontario’s legal and policing systems: false accusations are not only tolerated but sometimes rewarded, while innocent people face arrest, public humiliation, and long-lasting damage to their reputations.

II. Case Summary: What Actually Happened

David Menzies, in the process of covering and participating in a consumer-related legal dispute, tried to serve small claims court documents to Ashley Matallo, a manager at the LCBO’s Wicksteed Avenue location in Toronto. The dispute involved a defective bottle of whiskey, which LCBO staff had initially acknowledged.

Menzies recorded the document delivery on camera.
Matallo refused to accept the documents and then called police, falsely alleging she had been assaulted.
Despite the lack of physical contact—and despite the video footage—Toronto Police arrested Menzies, fingerprinted him, and detained him.
He was eventually released on a peace bond, avoiding a prolonged legal fight that could have resulted in jail time or mandated “sensitivity training.”
Matallo, by contrast, faced no consequences, and publicly available records show she received an 11.29% raise in 2023, earning approximately $119,000/year, funded by taxpayers.

III. The Deep Problems This Case Exposes

1. Weaponization of Police by Individuals

Police are intended to protect the public and uphold the law—not to act as personal enforcers for individuals who feel inconvenienced or embarrassed. Yet, this case shows how someone in a position of authority can falsely claim victimhood, activate law enforcement, and face no scrutiny.

2. Lack of Evidence-Based Policing

Despite immediate access to video evidence, officers chose to proceed with Menzies’ arrest. This raises critical questions:

Are police officers incentivized to make arrests over analyzing facts?
Is there a systemic bias to “believe the complainant” no matter what—even if the evidence directly contradicts them?

If police can ignore video evidence and arrest someone anyway, how many others are facing similar injustices without cameras rolling?

3. Gender-Based Bias in Policing

It is uncomfortable but necessary to acknowledge a gendered bias in how police respond to claims of assault—particularly when a woman accuses a man. While this is rooted in a desire to protect genuine victims, blind application of this bias leads to:

Wrongful arrests
Emotional and reputational destruction
Erosion of public trust in real cases of violence

Justice must be gender-neutral. It must be based on evidence, not stereotypes.

4. No Accountability for False Police Reports

Under Section 140 of the Criminal Code of Canada, it is a criminal offense to knowingly file a false police report. So why wasn’t Ashley Matallo charged? Why wasn’t she even investigated?

This sends a chilling message: you can lie to the police, ruin someone’s life, and walk away untouched—so long as you present yourself as the “right kind” of victim.

IV. The Lasting Impact on the Wrongfully Accused

What happens after an arrest like this?

David Menzies now has fingerprints and a mugshot on file for a crime he never committed.
His professional reputation has been smeared.
He was forced to choose between fighting a baseless charge in court (at personal expense and risk) or accepting a peace bond to make it all go away.
He continues to face emotional and reputational fallout, while the person responsible not only escaped consequences but prospered.

This is not just a “bad experience.” It’s legalized character assassination—facilitated by institutions we’re supposed to trust.

V. Why the System Must Change—Now

If this can happen to a public journalist with video evidence, imagine what happens to ordinary people with no platform, no audience, and no camera.

This is a systemic crisis. The following reforms must be urgently implemented:

🔹 1. Mandatory Video Review Before Arrests in Disputes

In any incident involving video or eyewitness contradiction, arrests should not proceed until a neutral supervisor reviews all evidence.

🔹 2. Prosecution of False Reports

Section 140 must be enforced. False police reports are a crime. Period. Not pursuing them sends the message that lying is a viable tool for personal revenge.

🔹 3. Remove Gender Bias from Officer Training

Police must be trained to rely on facts, not assumptions, and treat all parties fairly regardless of gender, race, or job title.

🔹 4. Public Sector Accountability

Public employees like LCBO managers must be held to higher—not lower—standards. When public servants misuse emergency services, their actions should be investigated just like anyone else’s.

🔹 5. Clean Criminal Records After Proven Innocence

If a charge is dropped due to falsehood, fingerprints and arrest records should be automatically expunged—with no legal hoops required.

VI. Final Thoughts: A Dangerous Precedent

David Menzies’ arrest wasn’t just a personal injustice—it was a warning. If truth doesn’t matter in our legal system, then none of us are safe. If false accusations can lead to arrest, humiliation, and silence, then we don’t live under the rule of law—we live under the rule of whoever gets to the phone first.

This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a human rights issue. A press freedom issue. A justice system issue.

And unless it’s fixed, this will happen again.

▶️ Watch the Full Video Here

ARRESTED: LCBO manager calls police after being served court papers
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1qCaFgJ1g