CORNWALL – The chief of the Cornwall Police Service says the force is reviewing the conduct of its officers after an arrest of a woman outside a local drug store.
A video posted to social media shows two officers trying to arrest a woman outside the Shoppers Drug Mart on Second Street East.
In the video, the officers can be heard saying “put your hand back…stop resisting” as the woman screams and struggles. “I didn’t do anything,” she wails.
“Stop. Okay you need to put your hands back. You need to cooperate,” the officers can be heard saying. One is holding the woman’s arm while a second is behind her with his arm wrapped around her neck.
The video is 18 seconds and only shows the arrest in progress. It doesn’t capture what led up to the arrest or what happened after.
In a statement, the CPS says it responded to a 911 call around 8 p.m. on Thursday (July 14) for a report of suspects assaulting store staff.
Police say they spoke to an adult and three youths. “During this time, the adult became uncooperative with police and resisted arrest, resulting in a struggle. At this time, the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.”
The CPS says it has a copy of the video and is reviewing it to see if the officers’ conduct is in line with its use of force policies.
“We ask for the patience of the community as we gather the necessary information to inform our direction,” the force said in a statement.