Vancouver transit arrest prompts backlash on social media

Content and language warning: The video embedded in this story contains content that may be disturbing to some people. Discretion is advised

Many social media users are questioning the use of force as videos showing Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) officers arrest of a person are widely shared online.

The footage has been making the rounds on platforms like TikTok.

The videos show two officers struggling with a person, who is at one point seen standing with their hands behind their back.

The person appears to be brought to the ground by officers, with one heard shouting “stop resisting.”

“I’m not resisting,” the person is heard saying, repeatedly yelling “please” as the officers continue to struggle with them on the ground.

At one point, an officer is heard yelling at the person to “put your hands behind your back.”

A bystander is also heard chiming in, saying “there is too much force” and “get off her head.”

While the person is on the ground, a Taser is heard being deployed, after which one officer is seen “kneeing” the person, who is pressed up against a wall.

In a post Thursday night, Transit Police says officers received reports that “a woman was suffering from a mental health crisis at Granville Station.”

Earlier today, a woman was suffering from a mental health crisis at Granville Station & threatening other passengers @TransitPolice officers used physical force, including a taser, to stop her from hurting herself and others. She is now at hospital, receiving much needed care. pic.twitter.com/jgIa7vCNRf

— Media Relations for Metro Vancouver Transit Police (@MVTP_Media) October 28, 2022

The tweet says the woman was “threatening other passengers,” and that “officers used physical force, including a taser, to stop her from hurting herself and others.”

“She is now at hospital, receiving much-needed care,” the tweet concludes.

Many people on social media have questioned why force needed to be used, with some claiming it was “excessive.”

Woman tried to grab officers’ weapons, transit police say

In a response to CityNews, MVTP says officers who arrived at the scene on Thursday afternoon “tried to defuse the situation verbally.”

“Concerned for her safety and the safety of other transit users, [officers] had to physically gain control of the woman to further assess her wellbeing and mitigate potential risk to her and the public,” the response said.

Transit police say the woman attempted to grab the officers’ weapons as she fought with them, prompting them to use “knee strikes” and a Taser.

Police say the actions of the officers depicted in the video are “approved for police officers in certain circumstances where a suspect is actively resisting and displaying assaultive behaviour.”

The woman was sedated at the scene and taken to the hospital under the Mental Health Act, MVTP says.

Transit police note they have been seeing an “increase” in mental health calls over the past several months.

“Our primary goal is always to preserve the safety of everyone involved when resolving these types of incidents. In the vast majority of calls, this is achieved through means other than use of force. However, sometimes, it’s the only tool left available when safety is our priority,” the agency stated.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a response from Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

-With files from Maria Vinca.