A disturbing arrest at a Coquitlam strata meeting that was caught on video has prompted a federal agency to investigate the actions of Coquitlam RCMP officers.
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) has launched a public interest investigation after receiving about 15 complaints about the incident last week, some from witnesses and others who submitted complaints after seeing the video online, said CRCC spokesperson Anna Van Dusen.
Coquitlam RCMP were called to the Best Western Plus Coquitlam Inn Convention Centre on North Road at about 10:30 p.m. last Thursday to respond to reports that people were fighting at a strata meeting that had "gotten out of hand."
The meeting ended when police arrived but one elderly couple allegedly refused to leave.
Victor Kim, who lives in the same strata as the couple, posted a video of officers arresting the elderly man and woman, who appeared to be resisting. Myung Ju Lee was seen on the video being dragged down the stairs to the hotel's front door while his wife, Kap Su Lee, refused to stand up.
Throughout the incident, the couple's five-year-old granddaughter could be seen and heard screaming and crying, and at one point flailing at the police officer as he tried to arrest the grandmother.
The CRCC's Van Dusen said the public interest investigation will be led by CRCC investigators and will examine the conduct of the members involved in the incident and whether the response to the situation followed RCMP policy, practice and training. It will include interviews with witnesses and a review of all available RCMP records, relevant RCMP policy and other material, including video of the incident.
"When the CRCC's investigation is complete, an interim report containing findings and recommendations will be sent to the RCMP for response," she added. "Once the CRCC is in receipt of the RCMP's response, a final report will be prepared and released publicly."
Last Friday, the B.C. RCMP asked the New Westminster Police Department to conduct an external investigation into the incident and the officers' actions, including speaking with witnesses, the parties involved and examining video surveillance, said Acting Sgt. Jeff Scott in a release.
"We’re aware of the sensitivity of this investigation, and we’ll be providing a Korean-speaking police officer to speak with those involved, and any other care that we have available to ensure a fair and through investigation is completed," Scott said.
Supt. Sean Maloney, the top cop with Coquitlam RCMP, said in a statement he understands the public's concern about the video and he has initiated a review into the officers' actions, including a further investigation into the reasons they were called to the meeting, but the RCMP has not released further information about whether the couple will face any charges.
The elderly couple were assessed by BC Ambulance paramedics and treated in hospital for scrapes and bruises.
They described in media reports being grabbed by the arm, kicked and pushed down the stairs, and said police would not answer their questions.
A spokesperson for the Independent Investigations Office of BC, which investigates incidents of serious injury or death involving police officers, said it will not be looking into the matter.
[email protected]
@spayneTC
