Photo by Photo Submitted
USE OF FORCE – A video posted on Facebook last Sunday shows a Whitehorse RCMP officer using force to arrest a man. The officer has been placed on administrative duty while police investigate. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will review their investigation when it’s complete. Photo captured from FACEBOOK VIDEO
Police assistance was requested at a Whitehorse residence due to a reported fight.
Police assistance was requested at a Whitehorse residence due to a reported fight.
That’s all Whitehorse RCMP will say about a violent arrest that was captured on video and shared widely on social media.
Insp. Archie Thompson, head of Whitehorse detachment, would reveal no other details this morning due to the ongoing criminal investigation into the incident.
A spokeswoman for the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) told the Star RCMP in the territory are investigating, and ASIRT will review the investigation once it’s completed.
No timelines have been provided by the RCMP or ASIRT.
The Alberta team investigates incidents involving police that have resulted in serious civilian injuries or deaths.
There are various roles ASIRT may have: they can lead an investigation; oversee a police investigation; review a police investigation; or both oversee and review it.
With a review, spokeswoman Lynn Crawford said, ASIRT will tell police beforehand what they’ll be looking for when they examine the investigation.
Spokeswoman Caitlin Kerwin of the Department of Justice said the decision as to which role ASIRT will play in a specific case is determined through consultation with Justice, RCMP and the Alberta agency.
What’s under investigation now is a minute-and-a-half-long video posted on Facebook on Easter Sunday that shows a Whitehorse RCMP officer using force to arrest a man.
It’s been viewed more than 800,000 times and shared more than 15,000 times.
The man is lying on a kitchen floor, appearing to struggle, and the male officer strikes him in the face area.
Several other people off-screen shout out when this happens. The officer attempts to roll the man over.
“Roll over and lie on your stomach,” he says.
“Put your hands behind your back,” he says three times.
The man lies on his stomach, unresponsive. The officer then pulls the man’s arms behind his back and handcuffs him.
Many details are unknown, including when the arrest took place, how many officers were on the scene and what happened before the video began.
The officer has not been publicly identified by police.
Thompson said in a news release Tuesday the officer has been reassigned to administrative duty while the criminal investigation is ongoing.
“The video has captured considerable interest, and some have found the use of force to be disturbing,” Thompson said.
“As a professional police organization, we have a responsibility to account to the public for our actions, including the application of force. In order to make an informed judgment, more information is needed.
“Social media do not always allow viewers the benefit of context or offer the totality of events, including the moments leading up to the point where the video started.”
It can be viewed at: on.fb.me/1FFNQAD
A vigil to protest police use of force is scheduled to take place at 12:30 p.m. Friday in front of the Whitehorse detachment on Fourth Avenue.
Under the Criminal Code, police officers are allowed to use force if acting on reasonable grounds.
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Comments (11)
Up 23 Down 0
WCO on Apr 15, 2015 at 11:15 am
As noted above, nobody knows why the member was at the residence. Is he known to police? Was he fighting with a female or male at that party? Did he have a weapon before the recording started?
Everyone's always quick to criticize the RCMP. Think of all the crap they have to deal with. Especially young drunk people of all races. I think the RCMP do an excellent job in Whitehorse with what they deal with on a daily basis. I think the issue here is alcoholism. It's a social issue.
Up 44 Down 1
Samantha on Apr 14, 2015 at 11:00 am
I, as a long time partyer and Butch Cassidy of the north and a runner from the law.. I can tell you the problem can be simply fixed for the young man. Quit your dam drinking and you will not act like a !@*, look like one or be one. Haven't we not noticed yet that we become stupid fools when we drink? It's NOT our color it's ourselves that needs to change. And as for the cop, yes they also have rules of safety. But doesn't mention beating the crap out of a person because you can? Doesn't YOUR damn NAME and REPUTATION mean anything to YOU at all? Cripes that's the Reason I quit my doings. Tired of the same ol same ol and GIVING myself a name I am NOT.
Up 12 Down 56
Mandeep Sidhu on Apr 11, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Since my first comments weren't allowed:
Officers harass individuals all the time. With Nathan the fact is this;
Because he spends a tonne of time doing his MMA training or kunfundo or combato ... he's probably more likely to want to use that skill set
Compare his conflict resolution training time versus his MMA training time. They won't match up at all. Depo training proves this. The majority of the training that is done in Depo is ... guns, driving, fighting, etc. Compare that to actual conflict resolution time...
You're more likely to use the tools that you feel comfortable with.
RCMP have a ton of issues to deal with and they know they can't. They've failed Canada, there is no other way to put it. Ronald Patrick Makar, LoveINT, belak, mclaughlin, Darren varley, Rick Brown, ..
https://bccla.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/2012-BCCLA-Report-Police-Involved-Deaths3.pdf
take a read. . .
Up 11 Down 55
Yukongirl on Apr 11, 2015 at 11:19 am
It's nice to see all these people make some noise. Although if you like things to be done, please make noise for all your citizens Lscfn not just cause your a Skookum. In Carmacks other citizens are brutalized by the police officers. Nothing has been done when the individual request for help. Is this because the others had no cell phone that they were beng brutalized? Please help all the citizens not just certain people and make noise for them too.
Up 25 Down 126
Charmaine on Apr 10, 2015 at 4:00 pm
All I could do is shake my head at your judgements! Who are you to say anything, probably all that put dislikes are non-native. Before you pass judgement take a look at the nightly news cast! Didn't a black man just get shot by a cop in the States? For what? The cop lied. What about the woman that got raped in Watson Lake? Where are the two "cops" now? Get real! What about natives getting tied to fence posts and left for dead? Why? Because we are drunk indians? As the saying goes "Walk A Mile In Our Moccasins Before You Say Anything." And for those of you that are "indians" and passing judgement, who gives you the right to do that? Too ashamed to be indian? Too bad you can't scrub the brown from your skin! The cop hit the kid pretty darn hard!!!!!!! No call for that! Yes, I realize people have had a hard life but if your skin is brown or black, it is twice as hard. Don't tell me any different, I have seen it ..... try going to the pool and a white lady tells her friends she has to get out because she doesn't share water with "indians"? Please! The cop has to be held accountable for his actions! Native and Proud!
Up 125 Down 14
BnR on Apr 10, 2015 at 3:05 pm
The father of the young man in the video, Eddie Skookum, was interviewed on CBC this morning, Eddie Skookum was the former chief of the LSCFN.
A simple search will yield Eddies own brush with the law. Nothing like a good role model.
Up 115 Down 18
yup on Apr 10, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Then you have the father who had committed a crime and got away with it screaming justice to the RCMP because they arrested a criminal resisting arrest? Get real. I hope the guy who threatened to kick the officer gets jail time too.
Up 24 Down 84
Dave on Apr 10, 2015 at 12:58 pm
You can see who is doing the fighting. Sure people put themselves in dangerous situations but the police are there to serve and protect, not pass judgement. There are a lot less dangerous ways the officer could have used, avoiding putting himself in a situation like this and just tazered the guy for example. I believe that this situation could have easily been avoided and the officers actions should be in question. It is unlawful to use karate in a fight isn't it?? This is just a highlight of the worsening morality within our policing system.
You're not Judge Dredd. we need accountability and safer training practices.
Up 129 Down 24
Rod on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:05 pm
If you are putting yourself in these positions, getting drunk, fighting, any criminal activity and then resist arrest... Well you deserve a smack in the face! All we are gonna hear is how much the RCMP hate Natives now....it's not a colour thing...it's an as****e thing! Don't be a complete idiot, obey the law and you won't need a smack in the Melon! Man up!
Up 123 Down 25
Salute our RCMP on Apr 9, 2015 at 6:46 pm
What about the drunk off camera saying "I should kick you in the $&*# right now"??? The officer is doing his job in a dangerous situation surrounded by hostile drunks. The person arrested did not comply with the officer. He is lucky that is all he got. This society needs to quit blaming the police! If you resist or do not comply with an officer of the law, you can expect that they will help you comply. Reality of the story, don't do something wrong and you will never have to worry about it!
Up 108 Down 14
June Jackson on Apr 9, 2015 at 5:13 pm
There is not enough money in this universe for me to be a policeman today. The few scanty details about this issue are really not enough for me to condemn the cop for use of force. I saw the video, but I couldn't see if the guy of the floor was trying to bite the cop? or spitting? I've seen worse videos.
My opinion as a whole? If a cop says stop.. stop.. if you see that red light in your rear view mirror, pull over. And shut up. A cop doesn't know what he is going to get when you roll down your window, so he is far more alert and edgy than you are. People know their rights.. well.. a cop knows his rights too and if he thinks you are going to shoot him, he has the right to shoot you. Right? Wrong? if you do as you are told until the incident calms or is over, you will live to debate the right or the wrong of it. As for the people at that party.. you all come off as nothing but drunks. And not very smart ones either. The RCMP are not the only ones that should have a body cam on.