Two Kelowna RCMP officers took the stand as witnesses on the second day of an assault trial for Const. Siggy Pietrzak.

READ MORE: Trial begins for Kelowna Mountie charged with assault

Pietrzak was charged with assault in April 2021 almost a year after the incident where the accused allegedly repeatedly punched a man who was being placed under arrest in downtown Kelowna.

Const. David Carter took the stand on May 24 to explain how the arrest of Tyler Russell took place on May 30, 2020.

Carter said that he called for backup after Russell was instructed to exit his vehicle under suspicion of impaired driving. Carter alleged that the situation then began to 乌鸦传媒渆scalate.乌鸦传媒�

He claimed that the complainant 乌鸦传媒渞aised his voice乌鸦传媒� while Carter was attempting to give him instructions. He also stated that Russell refused to walk to the police vehicle for a breathalyzer test.

At this time, Carter said that he verbally arrested Russell for obstruction of justice.

Carter then attempted to handcuff the complainant and a struggle ensued. Carter testified that another officer, Const. Donahue arrived to assist him.

Const. Donahue testified in court on May 25, that when he arrived on the scene to assist Carter he saw the officer holding Russell乌鸦传媒檚 arm, in an attempt to handcuff him.

Donahue told the court that he attempted to help Carter by grabbing the other arm of Russell and tried various tactics to get him to the ground.

Donahue said that Russell was yelling, 乌鸦传媒渨hat are you doing? What is going on?乌鸦传媒� while resisting arrest.

Carter claimed he and the Donahue 乌鸦传媒渨ere losing乌鸦传媒� in the struggle with Russell when Pietrzak arrived on the scene and ran towards them.

乌鸦传媒淗e used closed hand strikes to Mr. Russell乌鸦传媒檚 face,乌鸦传媒� said Carter.

Following the strikes, the officers were able to handcuff Russell and place him in the police vehicle.

The watch commander Martin Trudeau handled the 乌鸦传媒減risoner乌鸦传媒� after the altercation, when Russell was brought back to the RCMP detachment.

Trudeau alleges the incident was 乌鸦传媒渘othing out of the ordinary,乌鸦传媒� and 乌鸦传媒渨e had an altercation with a prisoner and he was injured.乌鸦传媒�

The commander reported that it was apparent that Russell was bleeding from his head, and while he did not believe the complainant required immediate attention, called paramedics to assess Russell.

Trudeau then stated that Russell was 乌鸦传媒渆xtremely agitated乌鸦传媒� and while he was 乌鸦传媒渘ot a threat, physically,乌鸦传媒� was being very loud and repeatedly asking to see a doctor.

He then said that for the 乌鸦传媒渟afety乌鸦传媒� of the paramedics, Russell was secured in a restraint chair.

乌鸦传媒淚t was not difficult to place him in the chair. He was not fighting,乌鸦传媒� said Trudeau.

He also decided to implement a spit hood or a fabric hood which was placed over Russell乌鸦传媒檚 head to prevent spitting on the paramedics.

Russell was 乌鸦传媒渘ot actively spitting乌鸦传媒� but Trudeau determined that it was best to be preventative.

The paramedics determined that Russell required a doctor乌鸦传媒檚 examination and transported him to the hospital under RCMP supervision.

Trudeau said that he had planned to go for a mountain bike ride with Pietrzak the day after the incident but they cancelled because Pietrzak had injured his hand in the altercation.

Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet confirmed that Pietrzak remains suspended with pay. She said that his duty status remains subject to ongoing review and assessment and the code of conduct investigation is also ongoing.

The complainant Russell has filed a civil lawsuit against Pietrzak. The Attorney General of Canada, also named in that lawsuit, denied Pietrzak used excessive force.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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