Police respond to excessive force accusations

Greater Sudbury Police are responding to a CBC Radio report in which one of its officers are accused of using excessive force, an event caught on surveillance video.

“The Greater Sudbury Police Service is aware of the video that has been released today in the media regarding an incident where one of our officers was required to use force,” the statement said. “The authority for police officer’s to use force is granted under the Criminal Code of Canada.”

It goes on to say that when an officer uses force when dealing with a suspect, the Police Services Act of Ontario requires what's called a Use of Force Report to be submitted detailing the circumstances.

“These reports are reviewed at supervisory levels throughout our organization, including a Use of Force expert. The case represented in today’s media article is no exception.”

The release also quotes Chief Paul Pedersen as saying police take such incidents seriously, and procedures are in place to review such cases to ensure officers behaved appropriately.

“We understand the concerns of our community whenever an officer is in a situation where that officer has to use force,” Pedersen said. “As an organization we are legislated to comply with a series of checks and balances, as well as civilian oversight agencies as it pertains to the use of force.

“Our community can rest assured that we have met and followed all of these requirements as a result of the use of force applied in this case.”

The release also said the person involved, identified by CBC as Tanner Currie, 21, tried to get police to pay him “a non-negotiable financial settlement,” and refused to co-operate with investigators looking into the incident.

According to CBC, Currie was arrested in June for public intoxication and for resisting arrest, charges that were later dropped. A video accompanying the story shows an officer pushing a suspect up against a window at police headquarters with enough force to break the glass.

“He has chosen to lay a private information in criminal court, as well as releasing this video footage,” the police statement said.

“As this matter is currently before the courts, we are unable to comment any further as this goes through the appropriate legislative processes and civilian oversight bodies.”