Peel police issue internal memo after officers fail to return Sikh man's turban

A Toronto-area police force has reminded its officers of adirective regarding the proper search and handling of religious
items after a court dismissed a drunk driving charge against a Sikhman whose turban fell off his head during the arrest.

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Charges of impaired operation and excess blood alcohol againstSardul Singh were dismissed because Peel Regional Police officersdid not return his turban after it fell while he was being placed ina cruiser.

Ontario Court Justice Jill Copeland, in a decision released lastmonth, wrote that the failure to return Singh's turban while he wasin custody constituted a Charter breach.

Copeland ruled that the breach of the defendant's right tofreedom of religion by police was a serious one, and that Singh'sbreath sample evidence should be excluded because its admission intoevidence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

In a statement Friday, Peel police Chief Jennifer Evans says she ordereda review of the decision and the officer's actions after Singh wasdetained at RIDE check on Dec. 10, 2014.

Evans says Peel police have had a directive in placesince 2012 regarding the proper search and handling of religiousitems and a training bulletin has been issued internally to remindofficers of this and other directives.