An RCMP officer accused of assaulting a man during an arrest says he delivered repeated punches to the man, but these were "distraction blows" to get the situation under control.
HALIFAX New Brunswick residents are calling for immediate action after an aggressive arrest was caught on camera Friday in Campbellton, and shared widely online. Patricia Leclair says she was shocked when she first saw the video that shows a New Brunswick RCMP officer repeatedly striking a man, while another civilian seemingly holds down his legs, pinning him to the ground. New Brunswick RCMP says members of the Campbellton detachment responded to reports of a man wielding a stick while entering local businesses in the city’s downtown around 1:15 pm on July 3. A witness to the arrest told CTV that he was resisting arrest. RCMP says the man declined medical attention and was taken into custody where he remains.