Video of arrest leads to third-party investigation
A Whitehorse RCMP officer has been reassigned to administrative duties while the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigates an arrest he made using force.
A Whitehorse RCMP officer has been reassigned to administrative duties while the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigates an arrest he made using force.
A video that depicts part of the incident has racked up more than 530,000 views since it was posted on Facebook Sunday by a Whitehorse resident.
The video is about a minute-and-a-half long.
It starts by showing a man lying on a kitchen floor.
A male RCMP officer rests one knee on the man’s chest, then strikes him twice in the face area.
Several people off-screen shout out.
“Why are you hitting him?” one woman cries.
“He’s not doing anything!” another man yells.
The officer leans over the man, talking inaudibly to him.
Then he attempts to roll the man over.
“Roll over and lie on your stomach,” he says. A woman sobs in the background.
“Put your hands behind your back,” the officer says three times.
The man lies on his stomach, unresponsive, his head resting against the fridge.
The officer finally pulls the man’s arms behind his back and handcuffs him.
During the video, people in the kitchen shout obscenities at the officer.
Whitehorse RCMP issued a statement about the arrest this morning.
“The video has captured considerable interest and some have found the use of force to be disturbing,” said Insp. Archie Thompson, head of the Whitehorse detachment.
“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.”
Thompson said that after consultation with the Yukon government, police have made arrangements to have ASIRT investigate.
“Through an impartial criminal investigation, facts will be collected, and a determination made on the appropriate course of action,” Thompson said.
In the meantime, the officer shown in the video – who police have not identified – has been reassigned to administrative work.
His duty status will be reviewed as “a full and detailed picture of what took place is provided,” Thompson said.
Under the Criminal Code, police officers are allowed to use force if they act on reasonable grounds.
Thompson said the RCMP will not comment on the investigation while it’s ongoing.
Comments (29)
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Doug on Apr 21, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Well...You look at the average pro police comment and the ratings are split 50-50 for thumbs up or down. Then you look at the Anti-police comments and you see the same split. That alone tells me this is not a clear cut scenario. Does it look bad? Sure it does. Is there more to the story than the 30 sec video of the end of an event? Absolutely. Is punching a guy in the face a necessary way to get compliance? Not always. Is punching a guy in the face during an altercation sometimes a valid option? Yes. Most importantly is it a valid option in this case?? I have no idea...nor does any non-bias person commenting on this story. What happened before this video, and the call type ABSOLUTELY matters! What doesn't matter is John Q Publics past experience with or opinion of the police. Most importantly, resisting arrest is not a viable solution to anyone's problems regardless of innocent or guilty...as guilt or innocence cannot be proven on the side of the road or wrestling with a cop in someones kitchen....want to fight the law?? Fine...do it in court and chances are the judge won't punch you in the face.... When have you ever heard of any police officer, when being confronted with someone not feeling like going to jail today, simply decide... Well you say you didn't do it....yeah ok, you're free to go... Common sense folks...common sense...No one has ever lied to the police. PS...Racism???? I don't know...but I don't see anything nor have I heard of anything that leads me to infer that racism is the cause of this...other than a white officer and a FN male being involved (I hope as a society we would like more evidence than that before we start throwing that word around, if not every time a white police officer arrested a non-white person it would be racism regardless of the validity of the arrest).
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Respect for Raymond on Apr 14, 2015 at 12:47 am
Raymond Silverfox died an unnecessary death at the hands of the RCMP. This type of abusive behaviour is unacceptable. For those of you hating First Nations people and just siding with the police, you're unacceptable. Some police are d**ks. I worked with the police for a time and some of them are absolutely racist. They don't have any native friends, they don't value native culture, and yet many of their clients are native and they don't respect them. I have lived here most of my life and if you think the RCMP can do whatever they want, wake up. Because if you perpetuate that belief, they will. Drunk behaviour is abhorrent but it doesn't mean the person partying is less than human and needs to be beaten or neglected by the RCMP. Would you want your brother, father, boyfriend or cousin to be treated like this young man in the video? No. Dislike my comments all you want, the racists in this town need to have some empathy and get in touch with diverse nations, not just think in 'northern redneck hick' terms.
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Groucho d'North on Apr 12, 2015 at 3:58 pm
This is an abortion of logic and reasoning. With the exception of the people who were in that building at that time witnessing this situation unfold, very few, if any, replying to this story know the facts which have not been shared in the reporting of this story, yet we read here references to racism, violations of human rights, resisting arrest, police violence from the past, past cases with no bearing on this one at all. This is not news – It’s gossip, and does not deserve to be considered news in this publication. Start with who called the police and why.
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Alex on Apr 11, 2015 at 9:20 am
If people make a mistake they go to jail. So why should that be any different for a cop? Badges and uniforms don't grant special rights or privileges. They're not above the law. And video cameras don't lie.
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Hey on Apr 10, 2015 at 8:59 pm
Should have tazed him. Why wrestle around on the floor. Taze, handcuff end of story.
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been there sorta on Apr 10, 2015 at 2:32 pm
I was told I was under arrest once simply because I told the officer he should get both sides of the story while he was telling a tourist, "I don't know how it works in the USA, but in Canada, what you just did is illegal!" - What the officer did not know was that the cab driver who called him and claimed this tourist 'ripped him off', actually would not let the man out of the car and was racing up and down the road with the tourist yelling, "Help!" The issue was that the cabbie was not set up for accepting visa, even though the side of his cab said he did take visa.
Anyhow, the cop told me to 'Shut Up!', and I laughed at him. He then said I was under arrest for 'disturbing the peace', complete with the added, 'You think that's funny? You want to see how this works? You are under arrest!'
Well, I did not move one inch! There was no way I was going to co-operate with this yahoo. Fortunately there was a retired police officer with me and he pulled the officer aside and explained what was going on.
That same officer was the man who was the officer in charge in the death of Ray Silverfox, only a few months later. He was losing it, and nobody intervened. To his credit, he did say sorry and rubbed his face and said, "Let's start again." when he found out what was really going on.
I think some of these officers are really on the edge, maybe burned out, and that their supervisors do not take action like they should when the reports of abusive behaviour start to come in.
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Charmaine on Apr 10, 2015 at 10:05 am
I am a First Nations woman and I have been "manhandled" by cops! He said I was resisting arrest and I wasn't. I was falsely arrested for a crime I did not commit. My friend was with me and she kept telling the cop I wasn't even at the scene, which I wasn't. But he proceeded to handcuff me and walk me to car, he kept saying "quit resisting"! URGH! I was walking and not resisting and my friend kept trying to talk to him and he wouldn't listen. As soon as we got out of the people's view, he said again "quit resisting" and he pushed me very hard and yelled again. Then he pushed me to the ground! And then pulled me up really hard (in handcuffs) and pushed me in the car and said AGAIN "i told you to quit resisting"!!! I was very, very upset and I got a real bad cut from been thrown. I was crying and he kept telling me to be quiet! And he yelled "I am tired of all you people!" Racism? I should think so! When we got to station, a woman cop came to talk to me. She saw that I was bleeding and said I had a nasty cut and I told her it was from the cop that pushed me to the ground, handcuffed! And she called him to a room. Sometime later, me still sitting on a bench, handcuffed, she came to me and said no charges were been laid and I was free to go!!!!! I didn't do anything!!!! Except walking down the street with my friend! All because we went to see what the commotion was about in front of 202! There was fight (between two men!) And the cop said i punched a vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG! Very violent and verbally abusive! Watching the vidoe was very upsetting, to hear the punch! I know the kid in the video, he is very polite (yes, even when drinking) he is very helpful to people and he never, ever touched another human being in his young life! Something has to be done! This is getting way out of hand. I felt soooo bad when I saw this and wonder how his mom and family is holding up? Sad.
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dee on Apr 9, 2015 at 9:20 pm
I think we do have some rights. Police cannot just tell you what to do when ever they feel like it. They have to have some reason. They can't just pull you over in your vehicle without a reason. If they tell you to go jump in the river are you going to listen just so you don't get punched in the face. I think not - lol
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Mark on Apr 9, 2015 at 8:18 pm
What I saw......a scared officer who got himself into a dangerous situation. Why would he enter a home by himself into an out numbered situation? That's gotta be a failed policy for sure. No matter what the victim said, he should have maintained composure and control. He didn't. From the moment the film started, the officer had him in control because there was no resistance from the VICTIM. He just laid there, he was drunk remember? He knew he was beat. Then he said something to the cop. That is when the cop lost his cool. ....What is this demand respect crap? To get respect you give it. There is not a man on earth who can demand respect. You earn it like anyone else. They probably have a name for that elbow smash to the face but I call it SUCKER PUNCH! Done in desperation and it's pathetic in my mind. And there were no verbal threats made. The off camera voice said,"I oughtta kick you in the f@@kin head is not a threat. Using the word "Oughtta" insinuating he should but won't.
What I did not see....why is he alone responding to call? Why are they on floor? Who called the police? Who gave permission for police to enter home?
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Josey Wales on Apr 9, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Interesting narrative being spun here, yes it is "smarter" to comply with a fully armed state actor when they are "requesting" questions being answered or positions to fall into.
Funny thing is though, unless your being (key word) "lawfully" arrested and or is a demonstrable believed that you HAVE/or are doing an identifiable breach of the Canadian Criminal Code (specifically cited section of)...you have ZERO obligation to comply to arbitrary "requests" of any state actors.
We are not Nazi Germany or North Korea...yet, HRT's are doing their best.
Why the cop was there, time will tell I suppose...at least some version of the events. What I seen in that video was not acceptable, not remotely.
Given the devolution of a once reputable employer as the RCMP into what it is today....scares the s**t outta some folks.
Many folks, not just criminals have little if any faith/trust in our national state actors. As a result many people are nervous around armed unaccountable to absolutely no one...state actors.
Given the stellar judgement made by many, many members on and off the clock, anyone of us could be the next "Ian Bush" "Robert D" if "their" authority is not respected.
I've mentioned High River and Slave Lk. AB and RCMP, anyone bother to fact check my "rant"?
When one starts peeling the tarp off the apple cart, only to find it evolved into a compost bin with a few buried shiny apples....you get video like this. And factual events as HR & SL AB.
Congratulations RCMP, decades of your malfeasance "helped" create the distrust and often fear we mere "subjects" have developed, the Teflon coating our courts cloaked you in...yeah that helped too.
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Max Mack on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:10 am
I am a law-abiding citizen, but have been threatened with charges and arrest for "disturbing the peace" for the simple act of challenging a Whitehorse RCMP officer's authority. The explicit threat was backed up with an implied threat of violence, as in the officer recounting how he "usually ends up in a wrestling match" with people who challenge his authority.
If this is how the new breed of RCMP are trained to deal with conflict and the public, we can expect to see a whole lot more violence and use of force situations.
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Cj on Apr 9, 2015 at 4:39 am
No matter what....I do not know anyone here but clearly this cop had him on the floor already...right??? So why did he clearly hit him twice??? If he felt threatened WHY did he enter the house alone? Where is his partner??? And only the uttered threats were said after the cop hit the guy twice....am i right so far?? Does this video Lie? Okay they have a reason to enter but they have no right to do what he did clearly on video! I agree each and every policeman who is suppose to protect us should wear a personal camera cause it doesn't LIE. Again I do not know anyone in this video.
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Anon - It has to be. on Apr 9, 2015 at 3:43 am
I have to agree with the comments that we don't see the entire story. The guy isn't resisting but he's not really complying.
S. 34 of the criminal code should be remembered. (S. 37 specifically)
If the assaulted was innocent why isn't the recorder diving in there? Don't forget you are allowed to.
If you'd like to learn more try the following book:
Dispersing the Fog - Paul Palango
You'll find out that the RCMP is in shambles and members are usually left to whatever they can think of. They are moving ahead with a pile of wreckage.
They need oversight and they aren't getting it.
The RCMP also have no job security because of the recent threat of Federal investigations into allegations that the RCMP are intentionally taking on fewer members in an attempt to increase their pensions after their last pension scandal.
The RCMP were just recently caught adding extra "employees" to their payroll while setting up their provincial contracts. I.E. officers that don't even exist are receiving checks. Because no oversight exists to guarantee that the number of officers specified in a contract is being met. The RCMP can add officers whenever they'd like. It would be wonderful to see YTG ask for all RCMP to attend one function and compare that to the federal payroll list. Shawshank Redemption had a similar scandal.
Nevertheless, what has to be remembered is that those officers that don't rock the boat and ask the fewest questions will be promoted to their dream job, living in Vancouver or Victoria while walking the streets or driving around serene neighborhoods pretending to do police work.
Unless the Federal Government steps in to offer some guidance/assistance to these officers who feel they are pressured into "following the norm...." nothing will happen.
We also don't have transparency, which means:
We don't know which type of officers are being assigned to the North. From the interviews I've conducted and been involved in;
They are usually fresh trainees or troubled officers from other areas that needed to be removed because of their "stalwart" or stupid actions down south.
Oh to all the "if you don't break the law you won't get busted..." You're ignorant of the truth. (These stories have been reported on).
Search the globe and mail or CTV. The RCMP have been caught targeting and harassing individuals. No question about it. The Vancouver Airport and the current perjury trial should echo here.
The people that are making those comments presumably work for the RCMP or have a friend who is an officer. These are called spin doctors. Pay no attention to them. They attempt to "sway" views with little facts or knowledge. (Everything I have written here can be fact checked/verified by reputable sources).
So the reality of this:
Why is the video so short? Why do we only see a few parts of what happened?
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RCMP supporter on Apr 8, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Imagine dealing with this crap on a nightly basis. When the RCMP tell you to do something, do it. This has nothing to do with race. Black, brown, white, whatever, if you're being an *******, sometimes you're going to get a punch in the head. You're a grown man, suck it up.
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Pacifist on Apr 8, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Those of you who so easily and comfortably condone assault or excessive force by police officers should take note that it does not matter what happened before the punch. The punch should never have happened. Not under any circumstance. Period. If this officer can't deal with an arrestee in a proper professional manner, he should get out and do something else.
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benjamin on Apr 8, 2015 at 3:47 pm
I actually just watched it again. There's definately more to this story. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the kitchen floor guy wasn't "just f*ck*n eatin' some f*ck*n food" as one person puts it. The cop looks tired from the outset of the video, and so does the guy on the floor; and that cop is in good shape too. By the time he rolls him on his front, the officer is definitely looking in need of a break. I think the main action happened before the cell phone camera came out.
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Tom Stevens on Apr 8, 2015 at 9:57 am
A couple of questions here..... why was the Police member in the house by himself and obviously outnumbered? Common sense officer safety tells you not to enter a circumstance you cannot possibly control and when you do make that error it elevates the need to increase violence for compliance. I am not sure that "ground and pound" is on the police use of force continuum.
Had the RCMP been prepared and used the proper manpower it likely would have been easier to get control. Another interesting video also circulating from Yellowknife where the same punch in the face tactic on a downed impaired person is deployed. Training issue or bully issue with the RCMP?
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LD on Apr 8, 2015 at 8:34 am
I agree with "More to the story"'s comment.
I saw this video when it was circulatng in the Facebook world and it does look bad for sure but I question what happened prior to the video. While I can respect that the person(s) in the video feels like they were disrespected I don't feel I can pass judgement on either party until all the facts are on the table.
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PJT1959 on Apr 8, 2015 at 7:04 am
I agree that here is only a short clip. Police had to have been called and if the person in question had of just put his hands behind his back and went out there would be no problem. This is a clear indication of no respect towards the police. Listen to the brave soul behind the camera yelling something like I should kick you in the ******* head - was that person charged with making a threat I would guess not.
Yes I was a little shocked but watching it 3 or 4 times you see and hear more. Obey the law and 99.9% of the time the police will treat you with respect also. Yes I do know the officer involved and I thought he did a good job at holding back with threats and trying to do his job much better than I could of. That is my rant.
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Kyle on Apr 8, 2015 at 6:02 am
Maybe if buddy just rolled on his stomach he wouldn't have got punched in his face.
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Rod on Apr 7, 2015 at 11:02 pm
"Hey there I just decided to pick some random house and punch you in the face for no reason"
I'm willing to bet there is a hell of a lot more then what that video shows, not to mention a extensive criminal record! That officer looked pretty worried to me!
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benjamin on Apr 7, 2015 at 7:55 pm
Yep, the cops don't just stop by for no reason, and furthermore, why was he on the floor of a kitchen with a police officer restraining him when the video started. I don't think that police officers randomly put polite, cooperative individuals on the floor of kitchens and then restrain them. Also, was this a cop by himself......in a room with people screaming obscenities at him when he was without reason restraining this polite, cooperative individual who was doing nothing. Put yourself in the guys position....would you have handled this differently? Get the guy back out with the public.
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was the force used justified on Apr 7, 2015 at 7:53 pm
@More to the story
Regardless of the reason for being there, was the force used justified?
That's the question that needs answering.
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Jason on Apr 7, 2015 at 7:42 pm
i have to disagree! The social media exposes whoever whether it be good or bad! With the law or with the citizen! So saying social media showing the worse is false and also there is no need to punch or elbow a kid for being detained! He wasn't going anywhere the officer was obviously in control of the situation because I didn't see any other officers or the distress of needing another on scene! I've said my piece.
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anonymous on Apr 7, 2015 at 6:04 pm
If you don't want to get hurt then comply with the police officer. Ask questions after. If you refuse arrest then they have the right to force you into handcuffs. Also, they should charge the guy in the background for threatening a police officer. What an idiot.
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Christine on Apr 7, 2015 at 5:50 pm
This seems to happen a lot!! First nation people have been treated like crap by the cops for a hundred years, since the residential school messed up our people. So it's ok to look at a first nation person and pass judgment on them if they are drunk, calling them a chug or another drunk Indian. There's more to the story then people think, first nation people have been abused and made to feel unwanted in their own communities because of all the racist people that were here raping our land of gold destroying our people. Cops should not get away with this every time or get resigned, the racism must stop. Maybe they were a lil loud and the cops got called but doesn't look like this kid is resisting arrest.
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Hold off judging on Apr 7, 2015 at 5:06 pm
I agree with 'more to the story' ... I'll reserve judgment. But can you imagine being a police officer these days? Listen to the comments and threats of the other people in the room, and this was probably a mild incident compared to others on the weekend. I don't defend overuse of force - but I can't imagine what the RCMP have to deal with in this town day after day
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Thomas Brewer on Apr 7, 2015 at 4:34 pm
And this is why all officers should wear body cameras.
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More to the story on Apr 7, 2015 at 3:33 pm
I would like to know all sides of the story before passing judgment. I saw the video. Sure, it looks bad, but, why was there a cop in the house in the first place? Last time I checked, they don't just stop by for no reason. Something would have had to happen for the police to enter.
It will be nice to know the whole story first before people just start their negative comments towards the police. Social media is really only great for showing the worst things about any scenario and making it one sided and biased.