Alberta Police Officer Charged With Assault After Videos Of Arrest Go Viral

After receiving footage showing a police officer pressing his knee against a restrained man's neck, Edmonton police started investigating. Now, two videos from the 2019 incident have gone viral and an officer is facing charges.

This article contains graphic content that might not be suitable for some readers.

In a news release by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) on Tuesday, June 16, they announced that Constable Michael Partington has been charged with one count of assault following an arrest that took place on Tuesday, August 27 of 2019.

The arrest was posted to Facebook on Friday, June 5 of 2020, where it soon went viral.

The charges arrived following "an in-depth investigation by the EPS Professional Standards Branch (PSB)" after EPS received the video on Tuesday, August 29 of 2019.

"Upon completion of the investigation, PSB concluded that the level of force described in the police report was not consistent with the force observed in the video," the release read.

Six months later on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, police "referred the investigation to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Services."

And, on Friday, June 12, the Crown Prosecution "recommended a criminal charge be laid against Cst. Partington."

The first video shows police apparently pressing their knee into a man's neck to restrain him. The man can be heard screaming throughout.

Another officer places handcuffs on the man and during the video, you someone saying: "Do not run from the police." 

The first video has been viewed 252,000 times as of publication on Tuesday, June 16. The second has 132,000 views.

Paddington had served on the EPS for four years, stated the release.

EPS wrote they aren't able to provide any other information "as the matter is currently before the courts."

Natasha Kimberly, who first posted the videos to Facebook, told Narcity earlier that she shared the video with police. However, after not getting a response, she posted the videos publically on Facebook.

"People in my immediate circle are saying, 'We're in Canada so why protest? Nothing like this happens here,' so I just shared it to show them why we're protesting."