Bear Clan asked to apologize for 'attack' on officer not involved in EPS shove incident
The leader of the Edmonton Police Association wants an apology from the local Bear Clan after a video the group posted accused a police officer of brutality during an arrest he was not involved in.
The 12-second clip, posted to TikTok on Sept. 16 by the Bear Clan's Judith Gale, showed the shove and then cut to an unrelated shot speculating who the arresting officer might be.
"TikTok does this look like the assailant?? It is his beat as he says," the caption reads.
Staff Sgt. Michael Elliot of the EPA said the misidentified officer is facing threats from the public and calls to resign because of the video. He wants Gale to delete the spliced clip and apologize.
"When you put something out that is completely false and misleading, that's crossing the line. It's inappropriate and wrong and she needs to apologize for that," Elliott told CTV News Edmonton, adding he's spoken to the officer who was misidentified.
"He's shaken about it…I'm not going to repeat any comments, but comments have been made to him in person and online."
On Thursday, the acting chief of Edmonton Police Service said the officer Gale identified wasn't even on duty at the time.
"Protecting our community is already a difficult enough job, without such attacks," Deputy Chief Devin Laforce said at a police commission meeting.
Police have not identified either officer or the woman arrested, because she was released without charges. CCTV footage made public by police on Thursday showed the woman with a knife in her hand when the officer arrived.
"As a friendly reminder to everyone, video can be weaponized and harmful in manipulated ways," Laforce said, adding that Gale's video led many members of the public to "share his name, call for his resignation, and much, much worse."
After Gale's video was shared, the Bear Clan promoted a protest at EPS headquarters. The group's Facebook called the arrest "police brutality" and claimed "there was no knife." The posts remained online Friday, along with Gale's spliced video.
A post by the Bear Clan after the EPS video was released Thursday stated: "No matter how you look at it, it is still police brutality."
Gale did not respond to several interview requests from CTV News Edmonton on Friday.
'WE WERE WRONG'
Elliott also said he had concerns with how other Edmontonians reacted to the video.
"It's sad and disappointing that people quickly judge and jump to conclusions because, I don't know if it's human nature or what, but there's some people out there who no matter what we do or say, it'll never be enough," he said.
Local lawyer Tom Engel accused EPS on Twitter of a "coverup." He told CTV News Edmonton that he stood by that on Friday, and said police should have immediately promised to release the image and video. After watching it, Engel believes there is still a case to be made that the officer used "excessive force."
The Progress Report, which refers to itself as an independent journalism outlet, tweeted that EPS "very likely lie(d) to the public" when they stated there was a knife without immediately providing an image or video of it.
The Progress Report deleted that tweet on Friday and said: "We were wrong to infer that and that post does meet the high standards of accuracy we seek." A representative of The Progress Report declined an interview with CTV News Edmonton.
"Our jobs are always criticized, regardless of what it is…This is an unfortunate part of being a police officer," Laforce said, defending his organization for taking nearly a week to share the video.
"We have to touch base with impacted officers, we're dealing with that video that was spliced together, we're not sure if the investigation is going to lead to charges down the road or is it actually concluded? So there's lots of moving parts we have to assess, so it does take time."
Laforce said the woman shoved in the video was released after her warrants were processed and she was given a meal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country's most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years.