The Smiths Falls family, Ontario, the woman demands justice after an online video appeared that seems to show the woman dragged from a police cruise and retained to the ground after her arrest.
The video, published anonymously on social networks, seems to show one of the officers that drags the woman handcuffed by her left leg from the rear seat of the Smiths Falls police service parked at a pedestrian crossing. Then, the officer seems to fix the woman to the ground for about 20 seconds before standing and push her back to the car.
Sarah Black, who told CBC that she is the woman’s sister in the video, said she and her parents were distressed after seeing him.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see him,” Black told CBC.
According to the Smiths Fall Police, the 29 -year -old was arrested after the officers were called to a business in Main Street E., where he was allegedly causing a disturbance, including belligerently acting and throwing a table against a wall. The same woman was suspicious in an alleged assault that had happened that night in a different place.
Police said the woman was arrested and placed in the back of the cruise where she began to spit and kick a plexiglas divisor.
The woman faces a count that causes disturbance and pronounces threats, and two accounts each of the mischief of less than $ 5,000, assaulting the police and not complying with probation. It was scheduled to appear before the Court in Perth, Ontario, on Wednesday.
‘The officer must be ashamed’
McKenzie Leclair has now presented himself as the woman who captured the incident in the video from a nearby window.
“When I began to record, I thought it was going to be like any other arrest, and then I [saw] The way in which the police officer handled her and my stomach fell, “he said.
Leclair published the video on Facebook, where he quickly won traction and caused outrage among some members of the local community.
Black, who lives in California, said he heard him from his mother. The family is not disputing the woman’s arrest, Black said, but they do want the police officers involved to be responsible for how they handled the situation.
“There is no reason for such force to be necessary in that scenario,” Black said.
Black explained that her sister is a “complex person” who has a history of mental health problems and use of substances that her family has been trying to help her for many years.
“My sister needs help, no more trauma, and officers clearly need a better training for mental health intervention if they behave in this type of situation,” Black said. “The officer should be ashamed.”
Incident under investigation
Smiths Falls police chief Jodi Eared confirmed in a statement that he has realized the video that circulates on social networks.
Endy said that both officers who appear in the video have been placed in administrative tasks waiting for an investigation, which will be handled by a different police service.
“We have determined that this issue is an institutional conflict and, therefore, we must refer to another police service for investigation,” Endy said.
The Cornwall Police Service will carry out the investigation, said a Smiths Falls police spokesman, adding that Endy wouldn’t be commenting more.
Black said she and her family are waiting for the results of that research.
“We want responsibility, the appropriate responsibility, including a complete and fair investigation, and if it is in evil, we want the official or the responsible officers to be accused or fired if necessary,” he said.
