I will comment on the viral video of a Vancouver police officer punching a bicyclist in the face. I’m the first one to admit there are many examples of police brutality that need to be addressed. The Victoria officer kicking a suspect when he was on the ground. The Kelowna officer kicking a compliant suspect in the face when he was on his knees. The VPD giving a guy the boots and caving in his face when responding to a domestic dispute. They got the wrong door. Even the New Westminster use of force trainer who got drunk and assaulted a newspaper delivery man in Vancouver. It’s all pretty shameful.
I just don’t think this case is relevant to the others. Here’s the deal. Under cover cops question a bicyclist in Vancouver after they accuse him of running a red light. He admits asking them Don’t you have anything better to do? He’s giving them attitude. It’s not a significant offense but it is worth a ticket so keep your mouth shut. He gives them attitude so they arrest him and put the cuffs on. As he is being handcuffed he pulls one of his hands away preventing the officer from cuffing him. The officer responds by punching him in the head, gaining control of the arm and brings it back behind his back to put the cuffs on.
If he had punched him after the cuffs were on it would be a different matter. But the guy pulled his hand away preventing him from being handcuffed. All through the interview he’s displaying the cocky arrogance he no doubt gave the officers that night. Personally I don’t think this one is a big deal. Many other cases are.