Halifax Police Cleared of Wrongdoing in High Profile Case of Alleged Racial Profiling

Santina Rao addresses supporters outside provincial court in Halifax on July 7, 2020 after charges against her were dropped. Nova Scotia's police watchdog agency has cleared two Halifax police officers of any wrongdoing following their violent, high-profile arrest of Rao who said she was a victim of racial profiling. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX—Nova Scotia’s police watchdog has cleared two officers of wrongdoing following the arrest of a Black woman who was struck in the face by one officer and later alleged she was a victim of racial profiling.

The Serious Incident Response Team released a report Wednesday saying the arrest of Santina Rao in a Walmart on Jan. 15 did not involve the use of excessive force, even though she and one of the officers were injured.