The showdown is on between the Toronto Police Service and the provincial agency responsible for investigating its officers.

The Special Investigations Unit is striking back at Chief Bill Blair’s accusations that it was editorializing in its conclusion that excessive force was probably used in two cases during G20 protests, although it decided not to pursue charges against police.

The police watchdog will now reopen its investigation into one of the cases and examine a contentious video of a protester being tackled by police.

Blair had said the YouTube video, cited by the SIU as evidence of excessive police force, was “tampered with” and edited out of context. The video, the chief said, had been “forensically examined.”

“It is very likely that what has been removed sheds light on why the man was arrested, and why force was used,” Blair said Monday.

The video, shot by web developer John Bridge, shows Adam Nobody, 27, chased by about six uniformed officers and then tackled.

SIU director Ian Scott concluded there appeared to be “an excessive use of force,” but the officers in question could not be identified because all wore identical uniforms.

Bridge said he turned his camera off briefly because he saw police rushing toward him, then turned it back on when he realized they weren’t coming for him.

The Star obtained a copy of the original video. The time code indicates a pause of four seconds between the two clips.

“Police really only had the time to bring Adam to the ground,” said Bridge of the gap. “He wasn’t going anywhere and he wasn’t doing anything, and he didn’t resist.”

In response to Blair’s comments, along with an affidavit sworn by Bridge, Scott announced Tuesday the SIU will reopen its investigation into injuries suffered by Nobody, including a broken cheekbone and nose.

“I will be asking Chief Blair to provide the SIU with any further relevant information he has with respect to this incident and more specifically any forensic evidence in his possession regarding the allegation of tampering with the videotape,” Scott said.

Police spokeswoman Wendy Drummond said Tuesday the case cannot be discussed because of the new investigation.

Lost in the flexing of muscle between the police and SIU is a man with the last name Nobody. The stage builder changed his name from Adam Trombetta two years ago for the pun value. It was a moniker he used while playing in musical groups.

What happens in the video is one of two allegations made by Nobody of police assault during his arrest at Queen’s Park.

He recounted one terrifying moment, handcuffed and lying on the ground behind a paddy wagon. A plainclothes police officer placed his foot on his face.

“He was calling me a piece of s---,” said Nobody.

“Get up and fight me,” Nobody recalled the officer saying, adding there were “tons of police officers around laughing.”

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He said he was then kicked repeatedly in the head.

Nobody said Blair’s comments are “just another slap in the face.

“To say the video was doctored or tampered with is too much. He keeps on building on the aggravation I’m already going through.”

In his recent investigation, Scott concluded there was not enough evidence to corroborate Nobody’s second allegation.

In another twist, Nobody’s arresting officer could not be identified because the badge number does not match with any members of the Toronto Police Service.

“The service doesn’t even know who the person who puts a badge number on an arrest sheet is or who the badge belongs to,” said his lawyer, Julian Falconer.

“Why are we engaged in this bizarre game of hide and seek with badge numbers?”

Nobody was charged with assault against a peace officer. The Crown dropped the charge in October, saying there was “not reasonable probable grounds to arrest Mr. Nobody.”

Sunil Mathai, a lawyer at Falconer’s firm, said he was encouraged that the SIU is reopening the case, adding the videotape and affidavit by Bridge answer Blair’s allegations that suggest Nobody was a violent offender.

Howard Morton, former head of the SIU, said Blair should be “ashamed of himself” for the way he’s handled the G20 and its aftermath.

“For Bill Blair to not fully cooperate and order every officer in his command who have some knowledge of who these officers are is a disgrace,” said Morton.

“I used to be a big fan of Bill Blair. I thought he understood crime and how the police should engage and pursue investigations.” he said, adding he thinks “it’s time for a new chief.”

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