Soldier accuses Fredericton police of assault
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 | 6:05 PM AT
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A Canadian Forces soldier has filed a complaint with Fredericton city police and the New Brunswick Police Commission claiming two officers assaulted him outside a nightclub while he was off duty.
Luc Begin, who is in his late 20s and normally based at CFB Valcartier in Quebec, said in a formal complaint obtained by CBC News that the incident occurred while he and his fiancé were celebrating their recent engagement with a group of military friends on July 18 at Sweetwaters, a club in downtown Fredericton.
Begin, who is teaching at the infantry school at CFB Gagetown, said he was mistakenly identified by bar staff as being a customer who had caused problems two weeks earlier.
As he was leaving the club, he said a police officer asked to speak with him. Begin said he tried to explain that he was not the person they were looking for, saying he was not in Fredericton when the previous incident happened.
He said he was suddenly thrown to the ground.
"My face was slammed repeatedly into the pavement with great force. One or more constables placed their knees on the back of my head and on my back," Begin said in his complaint.
"Constables screaming 'stop resisting' while administering a beating and committing an assault does not constitute resistance on the part of the victim."
Sgt. Scott MacKenzie, a spokesman for the Fredericton police, confirmed that Begin had filed an official complaint with the force.
None of Begin's allegations has been proven in court.
In his complaint, Begin claims he lost consciousness outside the nightclub and woke up at the police station with a breathing tube in his throat. He was being worked on by an Ambulance New Brunswick paramedic.
Begin said he has also filed a complaint with Ambulance New Brunswick about the paramedic's conduct.
When he was finally freed, without being arrested, Begin said $20 was missing from his wallet.
In his complaint, Begin requested that if an investigation is undertaken and misconduct is determined on the part of the two officers involved, that they be prosecuted.
He also asked for a written apology for himself and CFB Gagetown.
In May, it was alleged that two off-duty Fredericton police officers assaulted a CFB Gagetown soldier in Fredericton's downtown bar district. A police report into the incident is now being reviewed by the Woodstock Police Force.Share Tools
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