VPD investigating video of motorcyclist’s violent arrest on Highway 1

COQUITLAM (CityNews) — Vancouver police are reviewing a video of an officer violently arresting and restraining a motorcyclist last Sunday.

Roshan Soroush-Nasab says what was meant to be a relaxing, scenic ride up to Whistler turned into a nightmare after he was pulled over by police on Highway 1 near the Cassiar Tunnel.

He maintains he was compliant when he saw the officer try to pull him over, and says he didn’t even move once he had stopped safely along the highway. But moments later, the officer threw him to the ground.

“He slid on top of me, and his forearm was digging into my neck, as well as my helmet strap was digging into my neck. I asked him a few times calmly and quietly — I guess too quietly — because all the other guys were kind of screaming at him to release some tension,” he tells CityNews.

“Eventually he released some tension. He put his knee on my back for a bit, and he just grabbed my elbow, and he held it there for like twenty minutes.”

Another rider, Navid Omie, who didn’t know Sorush-Nashab decided to document what was happening. He says he was also handcuffed. Video of the encounter has been posted to YouTube. 

“Why are you arresting him? What are you arresting him for?” Omie can be heard saying as the officer pins Sorush-Nashab to the pavement.

“Why did you tackle him?” Omie asks. “He didn’t do anything.”

For the rest of the six-minute duration of the video the officer appears to be restraining him by kneeling on his back. At one point another onlooker yells, “Excessive force!”

Two Coquitlam men had plans for a nice motorcycle ride on Sunday, but they tell @RiaRenouf those plans were scrapped after a disturbing traffic stop by officers along Hwy 1. pic.twitter.com/gyZPB4mNmX

— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) May 22, 2021

Soroush-Nasab says he is still in physical pain.

“I have some trouble moving my arm, this is my dominant arm,” he says.

“I am a mechanic, so it’s not really good to have an injury here.”

Soroush-Nasab says he and two others were ticketed, and their bikes were impounded.

“He came back and said, ‘Okay, we’re going to give you an excessive speeding ticket, driving contrary to restrictions.'”

“My question is, how do you get into that position? How have you been on the force on this long, and how are you going to get so agitated that fast over a speeding ticket? I mean, are you serious? I’m assuming he got upset because those guys fled from him, but I have nothing to do with them.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department confirms it was one of their officers involved, saying they were seconded to the Integrated Road Safety Unit.

“[The officer] saw several motorcyclists speeding excessively. A traffic stop was conducted, but two of the vehicles did not stop. The officer did not drive after those motorcyclists,” says Const. Tania Visintin.

“Three motorcyclists did stop, and they were detained briefly.”

Visintin says the video has been forwarded to the Professional Standard Section, which has notified the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.

“As such, we are awaiting next steps.”

Both Soroush-Nasab and Omie say they are considering legal action against the police.