Edmonton police officer reprimanded for using force on handcuffed man in 2019 arrest

Madeline Smith · CBC News

· Posted: May 15, 2025 3:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

An Edmonton constabulary serviceman has been reprimanded nearly six years aft an apprehension wherever helium shoved a handcuffed man's caput into a ceramic wall.

According to a disciplinary determination released Wednesday, the serviceman admitted to unlawful workout of authorization successful the incidental connected June 11, 2019. He was among respective officers who pursued a antheral speeding successful a stolen motortruck into a downtown flat parking lot.

Frad Kamins, a retired RCMP chief superintendent who presided implicit the hearing, accepted a associated submission for a ceremonial reprimand arsenic the penalty.

Kamins said it's "on the lighter side" of penalties helium mightiness impose, but helium accepted the statement for "a restorative attack versus the accustomed suspension without wage penalty."

The determination identifies the serviceman lone by anonymized initials, but he was publically named arsenic Const. Dylan Awid successful 2021, erstwhile the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team charged him with assault in the aftermath of CBC reporting connected video footage of the arrest.

The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service stayed the charge about a period aft it was laid, saying successful a connection astatine the clip that aft a review, it was determined the lawsuit did not conscionable the modular for prosecution.

According to Kamins's subject decision, "The serviceman admitted the concern and the strength got the amended of his emotions.

"While immoderate grade of unit was indispensable to subdue the operator of the stolen vehicle, the unit utilized by Constable [Awid] was not. It was a lawsuit of mediocre judgement and a spontaneous reaction."

WATCH | Video shows apprehension that led to EPS serviceman discipline:

Kyle Parkhurst, the antheral who was arrested, filed a suit successful 2022 against Edmonton Police Service and the idiosyncratic officers involved.

In his connection of claim, helium says 1 EPS serviceman shouted "You're going to die!" and different called him a "maggot." He says he "received nary aesculapian attraction contempt being visibly injured" erstwhile helium was successful the backmost of an EPS car.

The allegations person not been proven successful court. All parties person filed statements of defence denying the allegations against them.

Parkhurst initially besides sued Alberta Health Services and the province, alleging helium didn't get due aesculapian attraction portion helium was successful custody astatine the Edmonton Remand Centre and Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre. Court documents amusement that enactment was discontinued this year.

In a connection issued by his lawyer, Chris Wiebe, Parkhurst said Thursday that helium wasn't fixed an opportunity to enactment successful the EPS disciplinary proceedings, and helium continues to fearfulness and distrust constabulary due to the fact that of what helium experienced.

"Almost six years is simply a agelong hold conscionable for minimum consequence," helium said.

Kamins's determination characterizes the incidental arsenic a lawsuit of "serious misconduct," but says the serviceman has taken responsibility, shown remorse and apologized for his actions.

Parkhurst said helium hasn't received an apology.

"It's similar I substance little to them due to the fact that I conflict with utilizing drugs and I person a transgression record," helium said.

Officer admitted 'screw-up' successful EPS behaviour investigation

Security video from the apprehension shows 2 constabulary vehicles container successful the truck, with Parkhurst down the wheel, aft it rams some constabulary cars.

Once Parkhurst is extracurricular the vehicle, constabulary get him to the crushed to apprehension him.

According to an agreed connection of facts from Awid's EPS subject proceedings, video from an EPS helicopter, arsenic good arsenic footage recorded by a idiosyncratic successful a adjacent building, shows Awid jump from the cab of the truck onto Parkhurst's leg, past footwear him successful the torso 3 times.

A antithetic serviceman progressive successful the apprehension besides utilized a Taser connected Parkhurst while helium was connected the ground, according to the connection of defence filed by EPS in Parkhurst's civilian case. 

Parkhurst is past handcuffed and pulled to his feet, and video shows Awid shove his caput into a wall. After walking him to a constabulary vehicle, inactive successful handcuffs, Awid shoves him again into the broadside of the car.

The officer acknowledged to an EPS Professional Standards Branch researcher that the 2nd shove against the car wasn't necessary, the agreed facts say. Awid was forthcoming with the investigator astir the incident, according to the subject decision, saying, "It was a screw-up and you ain it."

Parkhurst pleaded blameworthy to respective transgression charges astir six months aft helium was arrested, admitting that during a drug-fuelled transgression spree, helium stole respective vehicles and drove dangerously done Edmonton, evading constabulary and astatine 1 constituent rear-ending different car with capable unit that the pistillate operator mislaid consciousness.

His defence lawyer astatine the clip initially told the tribunal he'd question to person each the charges from the time of Parkhurst's apprehension stayed, claiming a breach of his client's Charter rights.

The Crown authoritative told the tribunal that "police did usage unnecessary unit erstwhile [Parkhurst] was already successful custody," and the Crown took that into relationship successful the joint-sentencing submission for three and a fractional years successful prison.

Kamins wrote successful his determination that Awid had been connected the unit little than 2 years astatine the clip of the arrest.

"He got caught up successful the 'heat of the moment' though, admittedly, that is usually the lawsuit with specified matters."

The disciplinary proceedings besides credited Awid for consequent unpaid enactment with Santas Anonymous and a nutrient slope initiative.