KELOWNA (NEWS1130) – A use of force expert has told the assault trial of a Kelowna Mountie that Cst. Geoff Mantler broke just about every rule in police training when he arrested a man in Jan. 2011.
Mantler was charged after Buddy Tavares was kicked in the face while he was on his hands and knees on a street near downtown Kelowna.
Sgt. Jeremy Lane of the Abbotsford Police Department, who analyzed video of the incident, testified Mantler should have waited for back-up from other officers before getting out of his vehicle, and didn’t follow the proper procedures when dealing with a suspect who could have a gun.
He says Mantler’s commands to Tavares were incomplete and vague and may have left Tavares confused about what Mantler wanted, adding there was nothing to suggest Tavares was refusing to co-operate.
Lane stated the kick to Tavares’ face was not justified considering the potential risk threat to Mantler. He also told the judge Mantler put another officer in a dangerous cross fire position when pointing his gun at Tavares, adding the officer’s notes following the incident were surprisingly sparse on details.
Police were called to the Harvest Golf and Country Club in Kelowna for reports of shots fired. Tavares took off in a red pickup truck and was stopped roughly 10 minutes later.
Mantler was caught on video delivering the kick-to-the-head, which quickly went viral.
Video footage shows Kelowna RCMP Constable Geoff Mantler kicking Buddy Tavares in the face.
Kelowna Mountie broke several use of force rules: expert
Expert testifying in the assault trial of Cst. Geoff Mantler
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“Police were called to the Harvest Golf and Country Club in Kelowna for reports of shots fired. Tavares took off in a red pickup truck and was stopped roughly 10 minutes later.”
This makes it sound as if he were running from something.. HE WAS NOT!!! he was employed by the golf course to use a shotgun to scare geese away. Some do-gooder called the police, and they over reacted as usual. If someone had not videoed this, this rogue cop would still be kicking members of the public today.. Mr. Tavares should now be talking to a lawyer and preparing a LARGE law suit.. The Conservative Firearms Act ‘Still’ declares any one that owns a gun is a Criminal ‘first’ so every call to a firearms owner ends up being a ‘gun call’..
This should now let the entire Police force know that the public are fed up with their bulling tactics and we all carry phones that take pictures so just do your job and stop with the arrogant attitude that a lot of you carry around . I have personally had talks with some great police officers over the years and they must be just sick with some of you. And then like Monty Robinson you hide behind your badge ethnic upbringing. Anyone of us would be in jail right now but you guys have separate rules don’t you.