Demian was arrested on Saturday for allegedly obstructing a police officer at a parking lot outside teashop BONTEA in Scarborough, Ontario. He was handcuffed and arrested for allegedly not providing his identification and swearing at police.
In the viral video posted on Twitter, one police officer can be heard telling Demian “you’re under arrest for obstructing a police officer” and “I asked for your ID and you told me to [expletive] myself,” to which Demian responded “No, I didn’t!”
The video also shows Demian telling the police he was punched in the face.
“You can’t punch somebody in the face through that sir, you can’t do that,” he said. One of the officers replied: “You’re not supposed to be out right now, bud,” to which Demian replied “I was going to BONTEA, I told you that.”
Another man who was at the scene was also requested by the police to provide his identification.
“Why do you need my ID?” the man asked, to which the officer replied, “the Reopening Ontario Act.”
Demian was shown taken away by the police in the footage. According to Toronto Sun, police sources confirmed Demian threatened to commit suicide while in the squad car. They took him to the hospital, from which he was released later.
On Tuesday, the Toronto Police Service released a statement saying Demian had died in his home.
“On Saturday, January 2, 2021, at approximately 9:40 p.m., the Toronto Police Service received calls from the public reporting a large gathering of individuals in the area of Midland Avenue and Finch Avenue East. Officers arrived to find a gathering of approximately 50 people and cars gathered in contravention of the Reopening Ontario Act. Some members of this large gathering refused to disperse and did not comply with the officers’ orders, resulting in one person being criminally charged with Obstruct Police.
Maria Elias, the organizer for the campaign, said all the funds collected will be directed to Demian’s family, even though they have not requested for any financial help.
“These are unfathomably difficult times for Moses’ friends and family, but especially for his mother Hiba and sisters Marina and Monica,” Elias wrote. “We want to ensure that they do not have to face any additional burden as a result of the costs associated with a memorial, funeral, or any other matters related to this tragedy.”
It also says when “you’re asked to identify yourself, you must provide” your correct name, date of birth and address. Failure to do so may result in being “charged with the criminal offence of obstruct police” and “might be held for a jail hearing.”
On Jan. 6, Ontario Premier Doug Ford hinted at the possibility of enforcing a curfew across the province.
“I am going to have a conversation with [Quebec] Premier [Francois] Legault tonight, have a good chat with him. I will be speaking to the health table later today and we’ll be making that decision over the next few days,” Ford said in response to a reporter’s question.
