The short answer is “Yes” according to retired Court of Queen’s Bench Justice M.A. Binder. “The fact of the matter is that it is unlawful to carry out a warrantless search under the guise of a curfew check,” he wrote. Binder’s decision (view PDF) came in response to a complaint against Edmonton Police Service Sgt. Ashley Hayward, in which he ruled Hayward violated the … [Read more...]
Buck Evans: Repeat Offender Violating His Firearm Prohibition Order
Why does the government refuse to change the law to allow police to track violent repeat offenders with Firearm Prohibition Orders? If they had, perhaps Buck Evans would still be alive today. On December 26, 2018, 34-year-old Buck Evans was shot dead by Edmonton police during what was called a high-risk arrest of an armed and dangerous suspect whose criminal record dates … [Read more...]
Constable Mike Wasylyshen is the poster-boy for our absurd police complaints process
In 2002 Edmonton Police Service Constable Mike Wasylyshen took out his police-issued taser and fired it into 16-year-old Randy Fryingpan 8 times in just 68 seconds. On October 9, 2012 Constable Mike Wasylyshen was found guilty of using unlawful force in tasering and then hitting Randy Fryingpan in the head back on October 5, … [Read more...]
Corey Maygard: Harassed by Edmonton Police for the “crime” of videotaping them on a public street
Corey Maygard was on the street on Friday, August 10, 2012 and saw what he thought were Edmonton Police Service constables physically abusing a man. He pulled out his iPhone and started recording what he witnessed. One of the constables came over and demanded that Corey stop recording them. Fine. The constable can make any demand he likes. That doesn’t mean anyone has to … [Read more...]
The sad tale of two police forces and the differences in how they deal with “high-risk” takedowns
The other day I wrote about the case of Sammy Sobieh, the Edmonton business owner who was [allegedly] the subject of police brutality at the hands of the Edmonton Police Service. In the video released to the public of that event, it is clear that Sammy Sobieh is both unarmed and compliant with police demands. Yes, even though there is no audio and despite the protests of … [Read more...]
Edmonton Police Services Sergeant charged with Assault
And so he should be, from what I can tell. Sgt. Kevin Douglas is a 17-year veteran of the Edmonton City Police. On March 4, 2010 he got into an argument with one of the prisoners at Edmonton’s downtown cells. He apparently lost it on the guy, who had to be taken to hospital, and also required plastic surgery to repair damage to one of his ears. The entire thing was … [Read more...]