Vancouver - alleged victim of police beating says he was threatened with being tasered

January 24, 2009
The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The delivery truck driver who says he was beaten and robbed by three off-duty Vancouver-area police officers claims he was warned about a Taser, and had a racial comment shouted at him.

Feroz (Phil) Khan described the harrowing incident for reporters Friday. Khan said he was first attacked by one man, who was then joined by the other two. "They kicked me in my head, kicked my back, legs, everywhere," Khan said.

"When I asked for help, they told me 'we are the police, you don't need help. If you don't behave, we have a Taser."'

Khan said he told them to go right ahead and use it.

"I told them that I'm half-dead anyways, after you guys beat me up so badly, so you might as well use the Taser and then kill me."

During the attack, Khan claims the men, who allegedly took $200 from him, said, "We don't like brown people."

A Vancouver Police spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment.

Furor over the arrest of three officers forced Vancouver's police chief to issue a statement earlier Friday.

Chief Const. Jim Chu admitted that it's unusual to speak about an ongoing investigation but - for the sake of preserving the public's respect - he wanted to reassure people about the integrity of the process.

"We normally reserve any comments out of respect for the process and a reluctance to say or do anything that might influence the outcome," he said.

Chu said the public needs to know the investigation is being pursued aggressively and fully. "We are in the process of interviewing witnesses and examining evidence, including any video that may have been recorded. We are asking publicly that any witnesses with information about the incident please call us," his statement said.

The chief said his fellow chiefs in the pertinent jurisdictions are also taking the matter very seriously.

The officers, all from different Vancouver-area police departments, were arrested Wednesday near a downtown hotel. Two officers, from the Delta and West Vancouver departments, have been reassigned to desk duties while a constable from New Westminster Police has been suspended with pay.

No decision has been made on whether to lay charges in the incident.

B.C.'s Police Complaints Commissioner is conducting a separate investigation into the allegations.