Black Habits - Black lawyer alleges racial profiling

A Toronto lawyer who says police targeted him for investigation because he is black plans to sue the city's police force for more than $1 million.

Jason Bogle says he was ordered out of his car and questioned by police last week simply because of his skin colour.

Bogle, who graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School last spring, says he was humiliated and suffered damage to his reputation.

The incident occurred on Dec. 28 â€“ Bogle's 26th birthday â€“ at around 11 p.m. as he dropped off his girlfriend at her home, near Eglinton Avenue West and Keele Street.

Bogle says he was sitting in his Lexus in a driveway when he was approached by police and ordered out of the vehicle.

The incident unfolded as Bogle's girlfriend and her mother looked on.

"[The officers] were made aware that I was a lawyer and they still insisted that I was involved in some kind of drug and gun activity," he said. Eventually the police relented, Bogle says, but they never actually apologized.

He says he will file a lawsuit against the force for what he calls a clear case of racial profiling. "I think that there's no other explanation for it," he said.

A police spokesperson said the incident was a case of mistaken identity.

Note: Last updated Jan 4 2006 09:15 AM EST CBC News