The Peel Regional Police officer who asked Jermaine Carby for his identification minutes before the Brampton man was shot dead by police wanted Carby’s name and date of birth because he was carding him, a coroner’s inquest heard Thursday.

During lengthy and sometimes tense questioning by Faisal Mirza, the lawyer representing Carby’s family, Const. Jason Senechal admitted he had no investigative reason to ask Carby for his personal information.

Passengers in a car stopped for a traffic infraction — this vehicle's licence plate was said to be obscured and its headlights were out — are not required to provide personal information to police. Under questioning, Senechal agreed he was not seeking a suspect who fit Carby’s description, and had no reason to believe the car he was in was connected to a crime. The street check was “a dominant reason” why he asked for Carby’s information, Senechal said.

When asked by Mirza if he read or watched the news, Senechal said: “Honestly, no. I watch sports highlights.”

Ongoing carding investigations by Star since 2010 have shown that, in Toronto, the practice disproportionately affects black and brown men. According to six years of data obtained by the Star last year, black people in Brampton were three times more likely to be street checked by Peel police than white people.

Asked by Mirza if he personally lived in Peel region, Senechal declined to say, agreeing he felt some discomfort disclosing that information.

“So, you can understand why, when you asked an African-Canadian passenger in a vehicle for their name and their date of birth, while they are sitting there quietly, it might be offensive to them?”

After a long pause, Senechal replied that he could.

Senechal was also questioned about his response to health information displayed on the in-car computer when Senechal ran Carby’s name.

The computer showed Carby, 33, suffered from mental instability and had suicidal tendencies — the record would have been displayed on Senechal’s screen reading “***Mental Health***.”

“Subject attempted to disarm officer. Threatened suicide, wanted police to shoot him,” the record said, referring to an incident between Carby and Toronto police just one month before his death, which resulted in Carby being hospitalized.

Jurors heard Senechal returned to speak to Carby roughly 30 seconds after seeing Carby’s mental health history on his in-car screen. By then, two backup officers, including Vasquez, had arrived on scene.

Since there was no urgency to speak to Carby — who was still compliant and calm in the car — Mirza asked Senechal why he didn’t make a plan with his colleagues, considering the high risk Carby posed to himself and others.

“You didn’t sit and take five minutes to discuss with them the plan of approach in relation to Mr. Carby, correct?

“No, I did not,” Senechal said.