Use of force was ‘justified’ by Smiths Falls, Ont. police during woman’s arrest caught on video, chief says

The police chief in Smiths Falls says an officer who yanked a handcuffed woman out of a cruiser by her legs was justified in doing so. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

An investigation into an online video that showed a physical altercation between a police officer and a woman already in handcuffs in a police cruiser in Smiths Falls, Ont. determined the use of force was “necessary and justified,” according to the town’s police chief.

Chief Jodi Empey asked the Cornwall Police Service to investigate the interaction between a police officer and a suspect on Saturday, June 7. A video circulated on social media showed an officer dragging the woman by her legs out of the back of a cruiser and pinning her to the ground.

• Police officers in Smiths Falls, Ont. filmed dragging woman out of cruiser placed on administrative duties, police chief says

Empey told the Smiths Falls Police Services Board her complaint to be investigated was whether “the force used on a female suspect was reasonable and justified.”

In an update to the board on Oct. 21, Empey said she received the internal report following the investigation by Cornwall police.

“It determined that the officers did not conduct themselves in any wrongdoing; the force that was used was necessary and justified to prevent being assaulted further,” Empey said.

The internal report was not released publicly, but Empey presented the report to the members of the Smiths Falls Police Services Board in-camera. The chief said the Cornwall police investigators had “full access” to all cameras, including a camera in the police cruiser and bodycam footage from an Ontario Provincial Police officer.

“I support my officers in this incident, and it will move forward with the matter that’s before the court,” Empey said.

According to the chief, investigators with the Cornwall Police Service recommended that the Smiths Falls Police Service purchase spit hoods and implement a policy for use.

Empey told the board that spit hoods are put over the suspect’s head and prevents police or any bystanders from being spit on.

Two officers were placed on administrative duty as part of the investigation but returned to active duty in early July.

Police said, at around 9 p.m. on June 7, officers were called to a residence on Lombard Street in relation to a complaint about a woman who had assaulted and uttered threats towards the occupant of the home.

At approximately 11 p.m., police were called to a business on Main Street East.

Police said the call was “regarding the same female causing a disturbance, who allegedly threw a table hitting the wall and was belligerent to staff and customers.”

“Upon investigation, the female was arrested for causing a disturbance and mischief after determining the table was damaged as a result,” police said on June 9.

The woman was placed in the back of the cruiser, according to a police media release in June.

“At that time, the female is alleged to have repeatedly spit and kicked through the open portion of the plexiglass divider where an officer then intervened,” police said.

A video later surfaced on social media showing an officer drag a woman by her legs out of a cruiser and pin her to the ground.

The woman is facing two counts of assaulting police, two counts of mischief under $5,000, two counts of failing to comply with probation, and one count each of causing a disturbance and uttering threats.

Chief Empey said the case remains before the court.

Smiths Falls is located 76 km southwest of downtown Ottawa.