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Critics, cops clash over use of force Video of takedown prompts complaints
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A12 A stolen French bulldog
Abbotsford News
Abbotsford Police are responding to accusations they used excessive force when dealing with a homeless man with a knife last week, saying they did what was required in a dangerous circumstance. The criticism was levelled Tuesday, following the public release of a video taken by a bystander at the scene of the takedown at the Abbotsford Food Bank on Wednesday afternoon. The video shows the man, Roy Roberts, 57, kneeling on the ground as several police officers aim non-lethal guns at him. Roberts, who is not holding a weapon in the video, is shot with rubber bullets and beanbag rounds when he fails to follow several commands to lie down. Ward Draper of 5 and 2 Ministries – which E R advocates on behalf of homeless citizens – said O M INE ObNynLews.com on social media and in a TV interview that ab police escalated a situation that could have ended sooner. He said too many police officers were sent to the scene, and it was excessive to shoot Roberts, especially when the knife was not in his hand at the time. Draper said police have had multiple previous interactions with Roberts, and he questioned why other resources weren’t called to the scene. “Roy isn’t a stranger to our city on any level. They should have maybe contacted community agencies to tag along … maybe bring out the mental health officer,” Draper said in a Global News interview. He said offering Roberts a French vanilla coffee would have been sufficient to end the situation. “I know Roy better than most people … He’s never been a violent threat. He yells, he screams, but that’s it. You Continued on A4
TRAIN TROUBLE A4 The city of White Rock wants dangerous goods trains to run through Sumas
GAS STATION ROBBERY A7 Abbotsford Police seek suspect in early Monday morning crime
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85¢ Abbotsford Police Department officers responded to the Abbotsford Food Bank last VIKKI HOPES Abbotsford News Wednesday after receiving reports of a man wielding a knife.
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