The province’s Serious Incident Response Team has concluded its investigation into an alleged assault involving an RNC officer last year.

The incident in question happened on September 18, during which the driver of a truck was pulled over as it was leaving the NLC Liquor Store on Topsail Road.

The officer saw the truck drive over a curb and then drive diagonally through a parking lot to get to the CIBC bank.

Both the officer and the driver, who is a man, agree on those facts, but disagree on what happened next.

The driver alleges that the officer used excessive force while being detained. He says the officer grabbed his hand, “grabbed him by the throat, dragged
him to the police vehicle and hit his legs with the door of the vehicle.”

The officer, meanwhile, states that he had concerns for his own safety given the “aggressive” behavior of the driver.

He contends that the man was resisting, and that he used the necessary force to ensure his own safety and make the arrest.

SIRT-NL’s investigation lasted for four months.

They say there were no witnesses to the altercation and no video of it, and the only evidence of excessive force comes from the driver. They say a second officer who responded to the scene later described the man as agitated and who was yelling.

Director Michael King concludes that he cannot form reasonable grounds to believe excessive force was used, and as such charges will not be laid.