Police can now search a cell phone
Police officers can now search through a person’s cell phone upon arrest if it is not password protected, according to Ontario’s highest court.
The Court of Appeal for Ontario now approves a brief police officer cell phone scan if the mobile device is not protected, but would require a search warrant if it has a password. The Canadian Press writes this recent ruling comes from an unsuccessful appeal of a robbery conviction case.
The perpetrator was found guilty of robbing a flea market jewelry stall in Toronto in July 2009. On the scene, police quickly found a text message about jewelry on his phone, in addition to pictures of a gun and cash.
The court’s ruling claimed this was not a violation of his charter rights, as the officer was searching his phone “in a cursory fashion” for relevant evidence. The news agency also reports the ruling, writing, “Rather, because the phone was not password protected, the photos and the text message were readily available to other users.”
However, in spite of this development, the court has yet to create a specific rule or law for police-sanctioned or not-sanctioned cell phone searches.
Land at Pearson, recognize Mississauga?
Hurricane Hazel strikes again! Well, almost. Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion is pushing for a new banner at Pearson International Airport that welcomes travellers to Mississauga, and not Toronto.
McCallion made her request to 2015 Pan Am Games chief executive Ian Troop, who 680 News reports was visiting Mississauga to speak to the Mississauga council about the games.
The long-running mayor spoke to a 680 News reporter about her exchange with Troop, and said, “Your job is to get a sign at the airport that says ‘Welcome toMississauga for the Pan Am Games.”
Currently, the airport recognizes Mississaugathrough a photo of McCallion, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell. Still, the airport is located in Mississauga, and 680 News writes it is within the Peel Regional Police jurisdiction.
All things considered, will aMississaugabanner detract from the experience of landing in “Toronto”?
A Spice Girl’s new gig
Things on America’s Got Talent are about to get scary.
Spice Girl Mel B (AKA Melanie Brown, or Scary Spice), will be joining Howard Stern and Canuck Howie Mandel on the reality judging panel, in place of Sharon Osbourne. This news comes hot on the heels of the audition rounds, which The Hollywood Reporter writes will begin in a few weeks.
The 37-year-old singer does have some TV hosting experience, having judged the Australian X-Factor in 2011, as well as that country’s Dancing with the Stars. Brown also previously appeared on the American Dancing with the Stars as a contestant in 2007, where she finished in a respectable second place.
Will this casting addition get you to tune in to America’s Got Talent?