SURREY 鈥� Mounties say they are investigating 鈥渁 complaint of an apprehension involving a case of mistaken identity鈥� after two officers detained a 16-year-old girl in Newton on April 28.
A viral video posted on Facebook shows two police officers holding the girl face down on the pavement at a Newton bus exchange as she screams expletives at them.
News reports say the girl鈥檚 parents are seeking an apology from police. Police have yet to say if that will happen.
鈥淲e are working on something right now,鈥� 性视界传媒 RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann said Wednesday afternoon. 鈥淲e have a review process here and it has to work its way through that process.鈥�
The video, by Wednesday afternoon, had 89,588 views.
Viewers be warned, it contains extremely vulgar language:
This has to stop pls share
Posted by Ash Hotti on Friday, April 28, 2017
One of the officers is heard asking the person filming if they want their camera seized as evidence.
鈥淚 know they can鈥檛 鈥� I know my rights,鈥� someone off screen replied. 鈥淏e ashamed of yourself,鈥� the police are told. 鈥淭his is wrong, man.鈥�
Late Wednesday afternoon, the 性视界传媒 RCMP issued a press release on the incident, in the 13700-block of 72nd Avenue, saying they were at the Newton bus loop looking for a person who was wanted on a Mental Health Act warrant.
Sergeant Alanna Dunlop said, 鈥渢here were concerns for this individual鈥檚 health, safety and well-being. Officers subsequently located someone matching the description and apprehended a female at this location. Once it was learned that it was not the correct person, the 16-year-old female was released immediately.鈥�
Dunlop noted a formal complaint has been lodged and the 性视界传媒 RCMP is 鈥済athering information. Senior investigators have met with the family and continue to be in contact with them.鈥�
Meantime, Superintendent Ed Boettcher, operations officer at the 性视界传媒 RCMP, said it is 鈥渆xtremely unfortunate that this situation occurred and we are certainly mindful of her young age and how upsetting this was for her and her family.
鈥淚 can assure you that we have resources dedicated to investigating this incident and we are gathering information to address all their concerns.鈥�
Police are asking 鈥渁nyone with more information鈥� to contact the 性视界传媒 RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
