A B.C. person alleging they was assaulted by police at Vancouver’s Main Library has filed a civil lawsuit naming the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), four constables, the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Public Library (VPL).
“The VPD constables intentionally applied excessive and unwarranted force when they grabbed, pushed, threw, tackled, stomped, kicked, punched, struck, assault and handcuffed the defenceless plaintiff, resulting in personal injuries,” said Dyami Dakota Corriveau in a B.C. Supreme Court notice of civil filed Nov. 1.
Corriveau alleged they were sitting near the atrium of the library with another person May 1 when officers approached to arrest that person on a Mental Health Act warrant.
The claim said that person stood up and moved away from Corriveau and an arrest of that person began.
Then, Corriveau alleges, two officers turned to them and “initiated a physical assault” trying to detain them or place them under arrest. The claim asserts the officers had no probable cause for such an action.
The individuals named in the suit are constables Brad Procyshyn, Finlay Rankin, Steven Spuzak, Micha Vandenbossche and VPL chief privacy officer Dawn Ibey.
The provincial Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General is also named.
“The plaintiff was physically injured from being thrown and dragged across the concrete surface of Vancouver Public Library Square,” the claim said. “Constables Procyshyn threw [the plaintiff] approximately 10 feet through the air at which point the plaintiff rolled and was tackled by several Vancouver police officers including defendant Procyshyn and defendant Rankin, and other, as yet unknown, Vancouver police officers.”
“One VPD officer threatened to break the plaintiff’s arm,” the claim said.
The claim asserts the constables breached multiple of Corriveau’s Charter rights, intentionally inflicted mental suffering and committed malfeasance in public office.
With regard to the library, the claim alleges the VPL breached its public duty in denying Corriveau a copy of the video of the incident.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The claim said Corriveau, as a result of the alleged incident, has suffered traumatic injury; panic attacks; insomnia and disrupted sleep; PTSD, anxiety and depression; tingling in fingers and injuries to the face, hands, wrists, elbows, knees and wrist scars from handcuffs.
The suit seeks punitive and aggravated damages as well as compensation for loss of earning capacity as a steel lather and medical costs.
VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said the issue is before the courts.
“We respect that process and will await the outcome,” Visintin said.
The VPL and city did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
