Oneida Indigenous woman sues London, Ontario police, claiming she was sexually abused by officers for years

WARNING: This article contains disturbing allegations of sexual abuse

A 67-year-old Oneida Nation of Thames woman has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the London Police Service (LPS) in southwestern Ontario, accusing three officers of sexually assaulting her over the years. , authorities claim they did nothing to stop it.

In the lawsuit, Elaine Antone said she was sexually assaulted by two police officers for 18 months from the age of 12 and was abused by a third officer for five years from the age of 30.

Antone, who said she first reported the abuse to police and Ontario’s police oversight agency in early 1994, called then police chief Julian Fantino and told her that one of the officers who had abused her in her 30s had been harmed. He said he was worried that he was adding According to documents filed in the Ontario Superior Court, she was married to another woman.

The scariest thing was that there was a gun there.– Elaine Anton

“I have a good memory, but I wish I hadn’t,” Antone told CBC News. “I thought police were supposed to help people.”

An Iroquois community of about 2,200 inhabitants, the Oneida Nation of Thames lies about 30 kilometers south of London.

Antone’s lawsuit names LPS and three officers: the deceased Brian Garraway and Keith Bull, and the retired Edward (Ted) Lane. Another lawsuit seeks damages for Antone’s two daughters for her $4 million.

The allegations have not been proven in court. The CBC has also reached out to all of the defendants, but all have declined to comment as the matter is in court.

In a plea filed with the court, LPS lawyers denied wrongdoing, officers were properly screened and properly trained, and authorities were unaware of the sexual abuse. Uniquely “without knowledge or acquiescence of LPS”.

However, Antone’s attorney, Joe Fearon, disagreed, and the police had conducted at least four separate investigations since the late 1960s to stop ongoing abuse or investigate allegations. said nothing.

“It goes against every ounce of Elaine’s dignity for her to go through it, to live it, to live it, to live the consequences, to report it, and for the police chief to do nothing,” Fearon said. , based in Toronto.

In 2018, Antone shared her story with the National Survey of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), naming police officers she said had been sexually assaulted. .

“I’m indigenous and because of my criminal record, they thought no one would listen to me and they had an OK.” Bull or Garraway, Lane I believe there may be other victims of the London Police who are not victims of the crime, and I feel they should also have a platform to tell their stories.

Abuse started at age 12, woman says

Antone lived with her grandmother in Oneida until she was five years old.

“I loved sports. I loved numbers, so I wanted to be a high school math teacher,” said Antone.

However, life became more difficult when she moved to London with her mother and brother.

Antone claims that when she was 12, Garraway came to the family’s house, asked if Antone was alone, and took her to her bedroom.

“He locked the door and didn’t speak much,” Antone recalls. “He took the gun out and put it on the mattress next to me and forced me to have sex with him. He was on duty. The scariest thing was that the gun was there. I did.”

The abuse by Garraway and a similar sexual assault by Second Mate Bull lasted more than 18 months, Antone claims.

At some point, officers found Antone in Garraway’s car, Antone said.

“She was taken back to the station, but no investigation was conducted,” Feelon told CBC News. If there is no explanation as to why the person is there and the person is a police officer, we should investigate.”

Ultimately, Antone was sent to Ontario Girls’ Training School (later called Grandview Girls’ Training School). —A reformed school for girls aged 12 to 18, run by the state. Survivors, including Antone, have complained of abuse and neglect at school. It closed in 1976, and in 2000 the Ontario government formally apologized to the hundreds of girls sent there. Eight former employees were eventually charged with various crimes, and two security guards were convicted.

Antone lived in London by the mid-1980s, used drugs to deal with years of child abuse, and frequently clashed with police officers, including Lane.

allegations in litigation

“Antone began around 1985, when Antone was about 30 years old, and over the next five years or so, in many cases, defendant Lane repeatedly sexually abused, abused, assaulted, and sexually abused plaintiff Antone. claims,” ​​the lawsuit claims. state.

“Plaintiff Antone alleges that Defendant Lane impregnated Plaintiff Antone twice and had two children.”

According to Antone, Lane initially denied being the father of his two daughters, but was ordered to pay child support by a family court judge after a paternity test proved it. .

“At a critical time, it would have been clear to the defendants that plaintiff Antone was a vulnerable person,” the lawsuit states.

The three officers used their position of authority and trust to keep Antone from telling anyone about the abuse, claiming they “sabotaged her normal upbringing just for their own satisfaction.” There is

The defendant was in a position of power because of her age and family circumstances, and because they were police officers, the lawsuit alleges, she trusted them and wanted them for safety and security. He claims that he was dependent on

Court documents allege that the LPS did not properly supervise the three police officers, examine their backgrounds and personalities, or document their shortcomings as police officers.

The lawsuit also stated that the then London police chief, who knew that Lane had repeatedly sexually assaulted him after he called Antone, did not investigate or reprimand him and allowed him to continue on active duty. claims that

Lane retired in 1996. CBC News tried to get in touch with him multiple times without success. He has not represented an attorney in this case and has not filed a defense statement.

Antone contacted Fantino and Howard Morton in 1994, and then the head of the then-new Special Investigations Unit (SIU). She called both men at her home to report that she had run into Lane at bingo and was worried he was harming other women. said he couldn’t remember how he got his number.

According to a letter filed as part of court documents, Morton wrote to Fantino: She states that she met Constable Lane in April 1985, and although they had sex, it was without her consent. He said he had another child. He assaulted another woman, but there is no evidence.”

In Morton’s final report to the Attorney General of Ontario, dated January 30, 1995, Antone stated, “I did not want the SIU to investigate this matter and I have filed a complaint with the Police Complaints Board. I don’t want to file a complaint,” he said. Antone did not wish to investigate this matter, so Morton writes:

In a separate letter to Fantino included in the lawsuit documents, Morton suggests it was “perfectly appropriate” for the Chief to discuss the matter with Lane. Nothing, and London Police have not produced any records indicating that an internal investigation has taken place or that Antone’s allegations have been investigated further.

Lane remained in service for another year.

CBC News contacted Fantino, who was the police chief in 1994 and 1995 (the years the correspondence is dated), and Elgin Austin, who was the deputy chief at the time and was in charge of public complaints. I was.

Fantino said he didn’t remember any such circumstances and, if he did, said he couldn’t comment because the lawsuit was pending. Austin said he remembers Antone as a troubled teen dealt with by cops. He said he did not remember the allegations.

Calling home was so unusual that Morton remembered the call from Antone, but could not remember what had happened in the case. said it could not comment due to ongoing litigation.

“Trying to make you feel better”

Antone’s voice is steady when she tells her story. One of Antone’s best friends is a professor, so she’s talked about it many times before in MMIWG research and in criminology student classes.

She keeps in touch with her daughters and loves playing with her grandchildren. She writes poetry and watches TV in her apartment.

“Health-wise, I’m not doing well. Emotionally, I’m trying to keep my spirits up,” Antone told CBC News. She said she was suffering from bouts of depression and was unable to carry out her daily activities because of her symptoms.

At the very least, LPS should pay for Antone’s counseling and the case will continue until it clears the court system, Fearon said.

This week, he returns to court to try to amend his claims to include allegations that LPS violated Antone’s charter rights. Lawyers for the police oppose the amendment.

An exam date will be set shortly.

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Available to anyone who has been sexually assaulted. It provides access to crisis response lines and local support services. Canadian government website or Ending Violence Association of Canada databaseCall 911 if you are in imminent danger or if you are concerned about your safety or that of others.