Charges to be considered after caught-on-camera arrest leads to 'significant public scrutiny': police watchdog
Warning: Some viewers may find the content in the video disturbing
VANCOUVER -- B.C.'s police watchdog has filed a report asking for charges to be considered against an officer following a caught-on-camera arrest that led to public scrutiny.
The Independent Investigations Office issued a statement Thursday about an incident that happened nearly a year ago. On Oct. 25, 2020, a man was arrested following what the IIO says was "a lengthy incident of alleged dangerous driving between Kamloops and Williams Lake."
The IIO's report says the driver was eventually stopped on Highway 97 near White Road. When he got out of the car, he went down an embankment. Two officers followed and "an interaction occurred" before the man was arrested.
CTV News Vancouver reported on the incident shortly after it happened. A passerby witnessed the arrest and filmed it.
In the video, as one officer arrests the man, another can be seen kicking and punching him repeatedly while he's face-down in the snow. At that point, the witness begins yelling at police: "Hey, stop that! We're filming this. You're being filmed."
At the time, Mounties said the witness video lacked context, and that the arrest "was the culmination of a high-risk, multi-jurisdictional incident that put the lives of the public and police in several communities in jeopardy."
Mounties also said at the time the suspect wasn't physically injured and the IIO's update acknowledged the man's injuries didn't meet its "required threshold for serious harm."
"However, given the significant public scrutiny generated by video captured of the arrest, the director of police services ordered an IIO investigation," the IIO's statement said.
After looking into the incident, the IIO's chief civilian director determined "reasonable grounds exist to believe that one of the involved officers may have committed an offence in relation to the use of force during the arrest." The matter has now been forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service for charges to be considered.
The IIO is tasked with investigating all incidents involving police officers in B.C. that result in death or serious injury to a member of the public, regardless of whether there is an allegation of wrongdoing on the part of police.
The prosecution service will only approve charges if there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the IIO's evidence, and if the charges are determined to be in the public interest, the IIO said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.