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

READ MORE: Trial begins for 琉璃神社 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 琉璃神社.

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 鈥渆scalate.鈥�

He claimed that the complainant 鈥渞aised his voice鈥� 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鈥檚 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, 鈥渨hat are you doing? What is going on?鈥� while resisting arrest.

Carter claimed he and the Donahue 鈥渨ere losing鈥� in the struggle with Russell when Pietrzak arrived on the scene and ran towards them.

鈥淗e used closed hand strikes to Mr. Russell鈥檚 face,鈥� 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 鈥減risoner鈥� after the altercation, when Russell was brought back to the RCMP detachment.

Trudeau alleges the incident was 鈥渘othing out of the ordinary,鈥� and 鈥渨e had an altercation with a prisoner and he was injured.鈥�

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 鈥渆xtremely agitated鈥� and while he was 鈥渘ot a threat, physically,鈥� was being very loud and repeatedly asking to see a doctor.

He then said that for the 鈥渟afety鈥� of the paramedics, Russell was secured in a restraint chair.

鈥淚t was not difficult to place him in the chair. He was not fighting,鈥� said Trudeau.

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

Russell was 鈥渘ot actively spitting鈥� but Trudeau determined that it was best to be preventative.

The paramedics determined that Russell required a doctor鈥檚 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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