Vancouver police respond to backlash over viral video of unarmed man's violent arrest
A Vancouver man who police say is involved in the Downtown Eastside’s illicit drug trade is in custody and facing new charges.
Video posted to Twitter Thursday by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users shows multiple police vehicles and officers surrounding a Black man near the intersection of Gore Avenue and Pender Street in Chinatown.
“Constables fired multiple beanbag rounds at the man and sicced a canine on him once incapacitated,” VANDU wrote as part of the caption of the video, which amassed nearly 83,000 views within 16 hours of it being posted.
In response to multiple witness videos and claims of improper conduct, Vancouver police wrote their own explanation of the events on Twitter.
“The man in this video is a high-risk and violent offender with a history of armed robberies, assaulting police and drug trafficking,” Vancouver police wrote before detailing the chain of events leading to his arrest.
According to police, officers patrolling the Downtown Eastside on Thursday recognized the man and were preparing to arrest him for a previous crime when the suspect got into a taxi and fled. Officers were able to follow the cab and get it to stop in Chinatown, where the taxi driver was able to escape to safety.
“The suspect initially remained inside the cab, before stepping out and confronting our officers.” Vancouver police wrote on Twitter. “He chose not to comply with our lawful commands to lay down on the ground. Instead, he turned to face the officers and challenged them to shoot him.”
An officer did shoot him with multiple bean bag rounds which police said was a “lawful, measured, and appropriate use of force.” According to police, the suspect is over six feet tall and weighs roughly 300 pounds, so the beanbags had minimal impact on him.
That’s allegedly why a police dog was deployed, allowing officers to gain control of the man and handcuff him.
“Once in custody, the man threatened to kill a number of our officers,” police said.
The online account ends with police assuring the man has been treated for dog bite injuries, remains in custody, and faces multiple charges.
Police Sgt. Steve Addison says despite the criticism, he’s satisfied with the way officers handled the situation.
“I think it was handled in a way that was lawful, measured and appropriate given the totality of the circumstances,” Addison said.
"I personally would not have done anything differently."
On Twitter, police said the man’s first adult conviction happened 10 years ago when he was 19 years old in Toronto. He’s since been convicted of 17 criminal offences – with May being his most recent, when he was sentenced to jail for assault causing bodily harm.
"When you understand the full context, when you understand the full story, you understand that the force that was taken and the actions that were taken were reasonable,” said Addison.
Despite the suspect's prior criminal history, Vince Tao with VANDU believes police used "excessive force."
"They're trying to build up this story, that he is a violent offender and thus he is considered armed and dangerous, despite (the fact that) the video clearly depicts he had nothing in his hands," Tao said.
CTV News has confirmed the Independent Investigation Office has not opened an investigation to look in to the officers' actions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in "all public spaces," marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.