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
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.