A Mountie in Kelowna, B.C. is under investigation after he was caught on video allegedly kicking a man in the face during an arrest.
In the video, taken Friday, the suspect is kneeling on the street beside his truck when an officer appears to wind up and kick him. When the suspect is rolled over, his face is covered in blood, and there appears to be a pool of blood where he was lying.
Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon ordered a criminal investigation into use of excessive force, as well as a conduct of conduct investigation.
"In my opinion, I feel there's sufficient evidence to order a full investigation," McKinnon told reporters.
Police were responding to reports of shots fired at the Harvest Golf Club when they stopped the suspect's truck.
Officers ordered him out of the vehicle, and told him to get down on the ground before the apparent kick.
On-lookers were shocked.
"I suddenly I see him and he comes up and kicks him so hard. He never fought," said a witness, who asked not to be named.
"What was the reason to kick him so hard?"
The Mounties uncovered a shotgun from the suspect's truck, but McKinnon said he was a former employee of the golf course who had a permit to scare away geese with his gun. The man was reportedly on disability leave after suffering a brain injury.
The officer shown in the video has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is underway.
Video footage courtesy of Kelly Hayes/Castanet.net
