Police Use Excessive Force in Edmonton

Article from CTV Edmonton

Edmonton Man Claims He's a Victim of Police Brutality

An Edmonton man is claiming he's the victim of police brutality, and he believes video surveillance proves it.

On Sunday, Sammy Sobieh says there was a disagreement outside his shop where police were called, and responded with guns drawn.

"They said 'put your hands up'. I put my hands up and that's it," he said.

He says he dropped his cigarettes and lighter he had in his hand and turned around because he was ordered to. And that's when he says the officers grabbed him and slammed him to the ground.

"I found them just beating me up. I felt like my chest, my stomach, even my heart fall on the ground," said Sobieh.

Edmonton police say a witness told them Sobieh had a weapon, which Sobieh's denies. The video surveillance from the shop has no audio, only telling one side of the story, according to the president of the Edmonton Police Association, Sgt. Tony Simioni.

"Different levels of force are required depending on the information we have going in. And depending on the level of resistance shown by a particular suspect," he said.

Sobieh was arrested and escorted outside. He alleges he was then punched and kicked again in the alley, but the cameras do not point in that direction.

Sobieh has filed a complaint, claiming he was bruised, and had his knee injured.

A criminal investigation is underway, with the video a key piece of evidence.

"If the force used by the officers was determined to be excessive a common assault charge could be something that could result," said Insp. Mark Neufeld with the Edmonton Police Service.

Sobieh says he wants all three officers charged.

"I need these guys to be punished as thugs, as any thug that assault somebody -- because it wasn't called for."

Sobieh is dealing with his own charges at this point. Police have accused him of resisting arrest.

Officers will hand the video and interviews with witnesses over to prosecutors in Calgary who the decide if charges should be laid.

Officers will only confirm they were called to the business on a weapons complain. But Sobieh says he had a disagreement with a man who was loitering by his business.

He told CTV News the man called 911 claiming Sobieh was about to attack him with a meat hook.

Sobieh denies that saying he didn't threaten or touch the man.

With files from Sean Amato
(http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110901/edm_beating_110901/201­10901/?hub=EdmontonHome)

Video taken from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O29QGsX1sE&feature=related

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Police
• Brutality
• Cops
• Edmonton

[corydale01]

first of all you retards he was not supposed to be there second of all they didnt beat on him its called pain compliance as you can see form the video he refused to put his hands behind his back and was trying to keep his hands under his body and hidden they did not tazer him otherwise he would have been like a fish out of water for a five second cycle you retards think as soon as a cop lays a hand on someone they are beating them get a life and job instead of doing crime and going to jail

[mrtechnical4]

@DannyReggin it does if you live in calgary

[Aledmonton]

And what did he say/ do threaten before this? The police look douchey here, but what did the loser perp in the video do first?

[DannyReggin]

@kushak47 first of all the cops in toronto during the G20 summit was twice as bad as that. secondly what about the police in Monteneaux (pardon my spelling) Quebec? Yeah i dig what youre saying, but just cuz theyre albertan doesnt make them redneck cowards.

[DannyReggin]

@FuckingHitMarker LMFAO. fuck you rich kid cop.

[bonaytothebonay]

This is messed up, the guy seems to have been following their insructions and they beat him while he is on the ground. Shit, what the fuck were the four punches in the back for and then you have the idiot with the taser kick him twice. They weren't even trying to cuff him up, just beat his ass. I bet they get a fucking slap on the wrist.

[FuckingHitMarker]

@kushak47 im not backing the actions of these officers, however, the fact that you think this guy has done nothing from watching a 35 second clip that HE supplied is stupid. I have been approched by police officers before and never beat.

[kushak47]

what the hell the guy did not even do nothing o well Calgary cops and Edmonton cops are all redneck cowards.

[TheInsomniac97]

ridiculous