Video shows EPS cruiser chasing man onto sidewalk
Posted November 17, 2022 4:30 pm.
Last Updated November 17, 2022 4:43 pm.
Editor’s note: It is unclearly if the police officer makes contact with the pedestrian.
Video showing what appears to be an Edmonton Police cruiser driving up onto a sidewalk and chasing a man is raising some concerns.
The footage sent to CityNews was captured in the area of 105th Avenue and 102nd Street — near Boyle Street Community Services by Rogers Place.
The dashcam video — which is time stamped for Nov. 10 just before 8 p.m. — shows a police cruiser with lights flashing driving up onto the curb and driving near the pedestrian.
Roma Schroter, who was working with a street team helping Edmontonians experiencing homelessness at the time, says they saw the incident unfold, telling CityNews it started when a man was being chased by police in a cruiser.
“Instead of getting out on foot and apprehending this man, they used their vehicle to take him down — and they did that several times in front of us, all the volunteers. And they didn’t stop until I came out and started yelling,” said Schroter.
Schroter says the man was able to run away but was eventually arrested by police down the street, adding it was difficult to watch.
“I was in shock seeing that. Us as people who work in the community see that kind of treatment a lot but just the nonchalance of the officers, it felt like they just did not care at all.”
EPS says video doesn’t show whole interaction
In an email to CityNews, EPS claims the “video provided to media does not show the several minutes of the initial interaction” between the officer and man, nor does it show “the numerous initial attempts of the officer to engage in communication with the male.”
“The video appears to be a short segment of an interaction that occurred on Nov. 10, 2022 at approximately 7:50 p.m. when a Downtown Division officer was patrolling the area of 104 Ave and 102 St,” the statement reads.
“The officer observed a male crossing 104 Ave and 102 St in a dangerous manner, causing numerous vehicles to brake suddenly to avoid striking the male, and creating an imminent safety risk to himself and other road users,” the email continues.
The statement adds the officer tried to communicate with the man from the police vehicle but was repeatedly ignored.
The man was then reportedly told he was under arrest for his observed offense, EPS adds.
“Given the agitated and non-compliant demeanor of the male, the officer chose to wait for backup, staying in his vehicle, prior to physically engaging the male, who continued to walk away to the east,” the police force said.
“The male was almost struck by several more vehicles as he crossed 101 St eastbound at 105 Ave, which led to the officer finally initiating contact with the male near the entrance to an area shelter. The male was subsequently arrested once backup arrived, and became compliant with police interaction and communication. He was subsequently warned in relation to the bylaw offences and released without further interaction.”
EPS says that “the patrol vehicle is part of the officer’s equipment,” adding police are given “extensive training in the operation of these vehicles.”
“In this instance, following repeated efforts to engage the male and get him to stop through verbal direction, the officer was attempting to block the progress of the male by driving up on the sidewalk in front of him, while continuing ongoing attempts to communicate verbally,” the statement added.
This story is still developing.
-With files from Carly Robinson, CityNews
