Woman arrested for assault based on Facebook photo

新時代新方法。多倫多的警察, 坐在電腦机前, 上網 Facebook, 就能即時破案。扶手椅侦探 (Armchair Detective) 又有新的定義。

Lizz Aston has never been in a fight in her life.

For one thing, she’s hardly a physical threat at 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds.

However, another woman claims Aston beat her last November at The Piston bar on Bloor St. W.

Aston, a 28-year-old artist, was charged two months later based solely on a Facebook photo and a generic description offered to police by the victim’s boyfriend.

The charge was withdrawn by the Crown on March 27.

The Nov. 19 incident at The Piston began when four couples were involved in a dispute over a coat. Several blows were struck.

Aston said she knew nothing of this at the time.

On Jan. 5, after returning from a visit to Cuba with her boyfriend, Aston received an email from an officer pointing out that the victim identified her as the woman who struck her.

The victim tracked down Aston’s Facebook photo because both had mutual friends on the bar’s Facebook page.

Police asked Aston to come in to speak with officers and she did so two days later. She was read her rights, finger-printed and processed.

Aston said she tried to show police text messages proving she was at an art opening for a friend on the date in question, but the officer didn’t seem interested in that information.

The matter cost Aston dearly. Her lawyer, Mark Polley, waived the retainer and gave her a courtesy discount. Instead of owing around $8,000, she is left with a bill for $3,000.

Polley questioned police use of a Facebook photo.

“Facebook is not a good way of identifying your suspect,” he said. “It’s inherently unreliable.”

Aston called the investigation “sloppy” and is now less trusting of police.

(CURTIS RUSH/TORONTO STAR)