Vancouver police accused of excessive force in Ali Eltah Ishag arrest

Security camera footage obtained by Megaphone of two Vancouver police officers arresting Ali Eltah Ishag, a homeless Downtown Eastside resident.

The two police officers approach Ishag at the corner of Carrall and Hastings and almost immediately begin to knee and kick him.

Two days later a police-issued press release that claimed, "As the officers tried to arrest the man, he allegedly began to actively resist and fight. The man continually tried to disarm one of the officers by trying to pull the officer's gun out of its holster. Unsuccessful at getting the officer's gun, the man then grabbed the officer's collapsible baton and before he could wield it against the officers, additional officers arrived and subdued the man."

To read more about the incident, go to www.megaphonemagazine.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Megaphone
• Vancouver
• police
• arrest
• East Hastings
• Downtown Eastside
• Ali
• Eltah
• Ishag

[MegaphoneMag]

The point is that the man being arrested was not fighting the cops when they started kneeing him — he is a homeless refugee who suffers from a mental illness and may not have immediately understood what was going on.

And that the police sent out a press release accusing the man of trying to reach for one of the officer's gun - which this video shows he clearly was not.

[xa9p462g]

When the cops start talking to you just answer yes or no. Don't be a smart ass and don't fall in the trap of trying to win an argument. Usually nothing happens if you stay calm. If they bring you in just go and once you're out of there, then get a lawyer. Seriously, I see those guy having physical fights with the cops. What do they think is going to happen? Do they think the cops are just gonna say "Ok buddy, you win so you can go now!" Really? What do they think is going to happen?

[fullofstupid]

fight the cops, get arrested.simple.

[GlaBurnzUrHouseAK47]

Beatings on them

[naym2011]

@xa9p462g why is this north korea ? the police dont own u

[naym2011]

fuck da police

[davejsmith]

@spongemike to bad your submitting to that type of system, it makes you weak for doing the wrong thing. Police are paid to uphold the law and protect the public, not ask for ID, track your movements, question you... etc.

[ThePicklepirate]

@davejsmith Law Enforcement you say........... Commissionaires? 

[davejsmith]

@ThePicklepirate umm... yea this guy was a real threat!

[ThePicklepirate]

@davejsmith Yeah, right....

[davejsmith]

@fear614 So the witness are wrong. I also have training in police tactics and procedure and I must be wrong. Police writing up false reports to defend there actions is procedure. Kneeing a non-violent suspect is procedure in what Provence? Making an arrest is easy, you must communicate your commands giving sufficient time and THEN act giving the suspect clear direction as your assessing risk to yourself/ public and what actions should be taken to serve and protect.

[fear614]

@davejsmith Look at it carefully mate, they tried to put his hands behind his back and he wouldn't. Police are trained to alter their level of force, hence the knee to get him to comply. He reacted by 'defending' himself, thus putting himself in a situation where the officers had to take him down roughly. Would I have given him the knee? No. But that's what this officer chose to do, and it's allowed as per the force matrix.