A Saskatoon police officer has been placed on leave after a video surfaced of a man being repeatedly punched during an arrest.
The footage shows part of the arrest that unfolded in the city Saturday, when an officer responded to a call for service.
In the 6 1/2-minute clip posted on YouTube, an officer is seen on top of a man, who is on the ground.
The officer is heard telling the man to “stop resisting.”
There is a bit of a struggle and the officer punches the man several times and yells at the man to stop grabbing his leg.
The police service says in a statement that the video doesn’t capture the entire interaction, and the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission will be investigating.
“The officer involved has been placed on leave until an initial review of his response and use of force can be completed,” said the statement Monday.
“The effects of addictions and related mental health issues were present during the incident and this will form part of the investigation as well.”
The video later shows more officers arriving at the scene and an officer yelling, “Taser” before there is a loud crack.
An advocacy group in Saskatoon that released the video is calling for the officers involved to be fired. It says the arrest is an example of police brutality.
We know that the answer cannot be more “sensitivity” training for police, nor relying on police to keep each other in check,” the Indigenous Joint Action Coalition said in a statement.
(Canadian Press)
