Full Breakdown
OPP Investigation Clears Toronto Officers in Northrup Case
3/18/2026, 11:59:30 AM
Findings of the OPP Investigation
An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigation into the conduct of three Toronto police officers has concluded that allegations of collusion and lying during the trial of Umar Zameer, who was acquitted of the first-degree murder of Det. Const. Jeffrey Northrup, are unfounded. The report, released on Tuesday, states that there is no evidence to support claims that the officers—Detective Constable Lisa Forbes, Constable Scharnil Pais, and Constable Antonio Correa—colluded or lied about the events surrounding Northrup's death on July 1, 2021. The OPP found that the officers did not commit any criminal offenses, including obstruction of justice or perjury.
Background of the Case
Det. Const. Jeffrey Northrup was killed while investigating a stabbing incident at Toronto City Hall. Zameer, who was in a vehicle with his pregnant wife and young child, struck Northrup while attempting to flee from what he believed to be an ambush. During the trial, Zameer testified that he did not recognize the officers as police and thought they were criminals attacking his family. The jury ultimately found him not guilty of all charges.
Judge's Concerns and Trial Dynamics
During the trial, Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy raised concerns about the credibility of the officers' testimonies, suggesting that their similar accounts indicated possible collusion. She instructed the jury to consider this possibility, stating, “When three versions of an event are wrong, and wrong in the same way, you must also consider whether there has been collusion between those witnesses.” However, the OPP report countered that the officers' testimonies were consistent with physical evidence, including security footage and forensic analysis.
Official Statements & Responses
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw expressed relief at the findings, stating that the officers had endured significant personal tolls due to the accusations. He noted that the OPP's conclusions vindicated the officers, who had been publicly questioned and criticized. The Toronto Police Association president, Clayton Campbell, called for a public apology from Justice Molloy, asserting that the report clearly exonerated the officers involved.
Criticism & Opposition
Zameer’s lawyer, Nader Hasan, expressed serious concerns regarding the OPP investigation, stating that neither he nor Zameer had been consulted prior to the report's release. He described the decision to have the OPP investigate as “curious” and raised doubts about the integrity of the review process. Legal experts have echoed these concerns, suggesting that the lack of an independent oversight body for police investigations could lead to perceptions of bias.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the OPP's findings contradict the judge's comments during the trial, the report acknowledges that the conclusions drawn by Justice Molloy were based solely on the evidence presented at trial. The OPP investigation uncovered additional evidence that was not available during the trial, leading to differing interpretations of the events surrounding Northrup's death.
Verbatim Quotes
“The OPP has concluded this investigation with no reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence has been committed by the officers involved.” — OPP Report
“Today our focus is on the vindication of officers Scharnil Pais, Antonio Correa and Lisa Forbes,” — Clayton Campbell, Toronto Police Association President
“We await the release of this report with serious misgivings,” — Nader Hasan, Zameer’s Lawyer
“The personal toll this process has taken on these officers has been enormous,” — Myron Demkiw, Toronto Police Chief
