The UBC Okanagan Studentssa国际传媒� Union is speaking out after a student filed a lawsuit against an RCMP officer, the Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor, alleging she was assaulted during a wellness check.
UBCO student Mona Wang alleges she was assaulted by Const. Lacy Browning while the officer was conducting a wellness check on Wang.
The alleged assault was filmed by a surveillance video taken from inside the studentsa国际传媒檚 on-campus apartment building and the plaintiffsa国际传媒檚 lawyer is using the video in an attempt to prove the officer used excessive force.
The video shows Browning dragging the handcuffed plaintiff on her stomach out of the apartment, down a carpeted hallway.
The plaintiff alleges she suffered injuries to her face, upper thigh, right breast, sternum and forearms.
Ali Poostizadeh, the studentssa国际传媒� union president, said they were shocked and saddened to see how nursing student Mona Wang was treated by the officer.
sa国际传媒淭he systemic problems we see in law enforcement around the world are present in Canadian communities,sa国际传媒� he said in a statement.
sa国际传媒淲e condemn the lack of oversight and use of force by RCMP officers in our community and across Canada.sa国际传媒�
According to Wangsa国际传媒檚 civil claim, Const. Lacy Browning attended her apartment and found her lying on the floor in a state of semi-consciousness. Wang claims she wasnsa国际传媒檛 a danger to Browning.
Court documents allege the officer demanded that Wang stand up but when she couldnsa国际传媒檛, Browning kicked the plaintiff in the stomach.
The universitysa国际传媒檚 studentssa国际传媒� union is calling for changes, including a review of UBCsa国际传媒檚 protocol when students need immediate mental health support, an increase in mental health support funding, an external review of the RCMPsa国际传媒檚 wellness check protocol, meaningful consequences for RCMP officers who abuse their power, as well as greater accountability on excessive use of force.
sa国际传媒淲e will continue to stand up for the safety and well-being of our student members. We believe in holding the government accountable for providing safe and equitable emergency services,sa国际传媒� Poostizadeh said.
Browning has filed a response to the civil claim disputing the allegations.
In the response, RCMP stated that Browning acted within the course and scope of her duties as an RCMP officer and did not act with malice. It is also claimed the officer had reasonable and probable grounds for the arrest and temporary detention of the plaintiff. The response alleges the plaintiff acted with volatile demeanour, was aggressive and refused to follow commands and that therefore the limited use of force by the defendant Browning was no more than was reasonable and necessary in the circumstances.
None of these allegations have been proven in court.
Wangsa国际传媒檚 civil claim is the second one brought against an RCMP officer that alleges aggressive use of force.
READ: UBCO student sues Kelowna RCMP officer for alleged assault during wellness check
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