No charges against police in incident caught on video: IIU

Manitoba’s police oversight agency says no officer will be charged after a video surfaced of Winnipeg police striking a man and grabbing him by the hair during an arrest earlier this year.

“Following due consideration of all the circumstances, the civilian director (Bruce Sychuk) will not authorize charges,” said a news release from the Independent Investigation Unit on Monday. “The IIU investigation is now completed and closed.”

On Feb. 17, the Winnipeg Police Service received a voicemail from someone saying he had recorded video during an arrest on Feb. 12 at approximately 9:45 a.m.

The video footage showed an officer “standing over a male lying prone on the ground” and a second officer appeared to strike the man in the head or shoulder area before handcuffing him.

The man was brought to his feet and searched. The officer then grabbed the accused by the hair, led him to a cruiser and forcefully placed him inside.

The incident occurred after members of the Manitoba integrated violent offender apprehension unit were sent to an apartment on the 700 block of Notre Dame Avenue to arrest a man and woman, who were wanted for robbery and aggravated assault.

Police said the man fled through a rear window but was later located on the 700 block of Toronto Street and arrested.

The full report from the oversight agency has not yet been made public as the man in the video is still before the court on charges related to the incident.