Image Credit: Facebook / Charli Fortier

By James Peters

IIO

Charges recommended for RCMP officer involved in violent Williams Lake arrest caught on camera

Oct 14, 2021 | 4:13 PM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — B.C.’s police watchdog is recommending charges against an RCMP officer after a violent arrest near Williams Lake was caught on camera.

The incident happened on October 25, 2020, after a lengthy display of dangerous driving that began near Kamloops. Responding officers had reason to believe the driver had a handgun with him. He evaded potential traffic stops in Clinton, 100 Mile House and 150 Mile House before the truck hit an RCMP spike belt.

The vehicle could eventually go no further and stopped along Highway 97 near White Road in Williams Lake.

The man fled down a snowy embankment on foot before officers caught up to him. Video taken by a bystander shows officers kicking and tackling the suspect as they take him into custody.

WATCH: (Video Credit: Facebook / Charli Fortier)

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North District RCMP Commander Chief Superintendent Warren Brown issued a statement a day later defending the arresting officers, saying the video did not show the entire context preceding the arrest.

While the suspect’s injuries did not meet the standard of harm typically investigated by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO), the matter was forwarded to the IIO due to the public scrutiny generated by the viral bystander video.

Thursday (Oct. 14), Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald announced the IIO had found “reasonable grounds exist to believe that one of the involved officers may have committed an offence in relation to the use of force during the arrest.”

The matter has been forwarded to the B.C. Prosecution Service for charge approval.