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
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.