ANALYSIS: What Are the Chances of Success for Rebel News Lawsuit Against Police for Arrest of Journalist

Rebel News may face an uphill battle in suing the police for wrongful arrest of journalist David Menzies, experts in the field say, although high publicity and public commentary add more dimensions to the case. On Jan. 8, Mr. Menzies was walking alongside Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on a Toronto-area street, asking her questions as she was on her way to an event, when he walked into a man who stepped in front of him and put his arm out to block Mr. Menzies. When Mr. Menzies asked the man what he was doing, the man told Mr. Menzies “you are under arrest for assault” and then identified himself as police, saying that “you pushed into me.” The man turned out to be a plainclothes RCMP officer. Mr. Menzies was handcuffed and put into a police cruiser but was released the same day without charges. Rebel News has announced its intent to sue over the arrest. ...