Ridge Meadows RCMP are reviewing the arrest of a man on Jan. 18 after a video capturing a physical altercation was broadcast by Global News.
A woman shot the video after making the initial call to police about a man sitting behind the wheel of a truck.
The video shows a man leaning up against the hood of a blue pickup truck in Maple Ridge Park. The officer then holds the man with one hand while reviewing paper work.
After a few moments of leaning against the hood the man, who is not handcuffed, is moved towards the cab of the vehicle.
After the man seems to raise his left arm behind him, the officer grabs him by the shoulders and slams him backwards on to the dirt.
The video then shows the officer carrying the limp man by the shirt and pants, then loading him into the back of his SUV police cruiser.
There is then a verbal exchange between the woman taping the incident and the officer.
“Due to his level of intoxication, he was held here until he sobered up and was released. There were no lasting effects,” a police spokesman said of the man arrested.
The man wasn’t charged with a criminal offence, but got an immediate roadside prohibition while the vehicle was seized.
“I have viewed the video that was taken by a witness and it raises questions about how the situation was handled,” said Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt David Fleugel. “I have ordered a code of conduct investigation into this incident and the officer involved is being placed on administrative duties pending the results of that investigation. In addition, we will also look at the witness’s allegations that she reported her concerns earlier and what happened to that complaint.”
As this matter is now being fully investigated, he added, RCMP are unable to provide further comment at this time.
