A report released by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO), has found that one Central Saanich police officer and three Victoria police officers did not use excessive force in the arrest of a woman on July 25, 2017, which resulted in her shoulder being fractured.
The IIO used statements from five civilians, a statement from the Central Saanich police officer, statements form two VicPD officers, local businessesB次元官网网址� CCTV footage, Emergency Health Services records and medical records to understand what happened.
READ MORE:
The incident began at 11:45 a.m. when the woman walked into a local business, and left the property with a tip jar. A staff member of the business followed the woman outside, and saw her holding the jar and a cup of milk.
The staff member asked the woman for the tip jar back, and the woman grabbed the cash, smashed the jar on the sidewalk and threw milk at the staff member. The woman started screaming, and striking the staff member.
An off-duty Central Saanich police officer was parked in his car nearby and saw the incident.
He got out and asked the staff member what happened, and he arrested the woman, explaining he was a police officer.
Witnesses said the woman began hitting the officer with a pair of shoes she was carrying before he grabbed her left wrist and pinned her arm behind her back. He swept his right foot under her ankle and pushed her to the ground, keeping hold of her.
B次元官网网址淚n the process I know that she, she was thrown to the ground by that action of mine, quite hard,B次元官网网址� the Central Saanich officer said in his statement. B次元官网网址淏ut I feel I had no, no other options because at this point I was first and foremost worried she would continue to assault me.B次元官网网址�
The woman was brought to the ground and the officer pinned her down by keeping her arm pinned to her back, and by holding her down, but he did not kneel on her.
READ MORE:
Witnesses said the officerB次元官网网址檚 head was bleeding quite a lot, and that some of the blood got on the woman, who began to scream, thinking she was bleeding.
The officer and witnesses tried to tell her to remain calm, and that the blood wasnB次元官网网址檛 hers. One witness used napkins to wipe the officerB次元官网网址檚 forehead.
Three VicPD officers arrived on scene and assisted the Central Saanich officer in getting the woman onto her back. Once she was under control, the Central Saanich officer could step away before the VicPD brought her to a police car.
One witness was quoted as saying that the Central Saanich officer B次元官网网址渟aved the day.B次元官网网址�
The IIO conclusion stated that B次元官网网址渢he force used in this incident was not excessive. All four Subject Officers acted as required by their duties and in accordance with the law.B次元官网网址�
No charges were pressed against any officer.
Correction: The incident involved a Central Saanich police officer, not a Saanich police officer.
Like us on and follow us on
