Man accused of assaulting officer disputes Mountie’s version of story

A Hedley man accused of assaulting a police officer testified Wednesday he doesn’t believe the Mountie is being honest about how the fight started.

Bremner Lance is charged with uttering threats and assaulting a peace officer causing bodily harm. His trial began Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court in Penticton.

Video evidence president at trial does show how the altercation between Lance and Const. Kendal Oliver ended.

Cpl. Chad Parsons testified Wednesday that he could tell something was wrong on Sept. 16, 2016, after hearing Oliver’s calls for backup over the radio. He testified he saw Lance punch Oliver in the face while arriving on scene.

Parsons said he struck Lance twice with his baton to break up the fight.

“I have Const. Oliver on the radio requesting my immediate return to the scene. I can tell by the tone of his voice something is very wrong. I round the corner to see Mr. Lance coming at Const. Oliver,” Parsons said.

Defence counsel Don Skogstad asked Parsons why he struck Lance when arriving on scene.

“He’s not trying to get away from Const. Oliver. He is, in my view, assaulting him.”

A still frame of the video evidence taken by a bystander shows Lance’s arm clearly coming down in a swinging motion towards Oliver’s head moments before Parsons gets out of his vehicle and strikes Lance, who is entangled with Oliver on the ground.

“From my vision out of the police car coming down towards (them), it appeared it was full contact,” Parsons said.

Lance’s testimony Wednesday was given during a voir dire — a trial within a trial — on the admissibility of a statement he gave police during an interrogation the day after the incident.

He said what has changed since admitting to the assault is he doesn’t believe Const. Oliver “is telling the truth.”

The trial continues today with Lance taking the stand in his own defence in the trial proper.