Cops ‘heavy-handed’ in takedown, witness says
The owner of a motorcycle accessories store says Vancouver police were heavy-handed in their response to an alleged speeder who they aggressively took down in the back parking lot of his Fraser Street business.
Kevin Boisvert, owner of Bayside Performance, said the arrest took place Monday at around 8 p.m. Video surveillance taken from a camera outside the store and posted on his Facebook page, shows a man on a motorcycle pulling into the lot with an unmarked police car following close behind.
The police car’s lights aren’t on when it first enters the frame, but are later activated when the motorcyclist comes to a stop. Two officers get out of the car and one of them pushes the man, later identified online as Lucas Moh, to the ground. The same officer appears to knee him twice in the body.
“It didn’t look like he was resisting arrest or running away,” Boisvert said of Moh, who he described as a nice guy and a longtime customer. “It just seemed a bit heavyhanded. It’s not a police officer’s job to dish out punishment.”
Moh admitted on Facebook to speeding, saying he had no idea he was being followed by police, and that he tried his best to co-operate. Attempts by The Province to reach Moh were unsuccessful.
In an emailed statement, Const. Brian Montague said the man wasn’t only speeding, but also trying to avoid cops.
“The operator of the motorbike had fled from and was evading police,” Montague said. “He was not only putting his life, but the life of many others at risk of injury or death by operating a vehicle in a dangerous manner, which is a criminal offence. The driver was quickly arrested to ensure there was no continued danger to the public.”
Montague also said a knife was removed from the man.
Boisvert, meantime, said he posted the video online to show people “what’s going on.”
“I don’t think it’s right,” said Boisvert. “Maybe the cops feel justified. If they do, I think they are wrong.”