Ottawa police clear RCMP officer seen hitting naked Nunavut prisoner on video
Video showed RCMP officer hitting Eetooloo Ejetsiak in Iqaluit RCMP cells
An external investigation has determined that a Nunavut RCMP office did not use excessive force in an incident —captured on video — that appears to show the officer hitting a naked prisoner in the head in an RCMP cell.
Eetooloo Ejetsiak's lawyer entered the video as evidence in court in February 2015 and later provided the video to CBC.
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"The independent investigation in this case concluded that the member involved was acting within the scope of his duties and did not exceed the use of force necessary to control an aggressive and assaultive prisoner," states an RCMP release.
"Police work is inherently challenging and police officers, while well trained, often have to make quick decisions based on the situations they are faced with," states the release.
The investigation was referred to the Ottawa Police Service in order to maintain impartiality.
The principal officer who was being investigated has since moved to another detachment.
Video shows Ejetsiak being thrown into the cell by RCMP
Ejetsiak was arrested in Iqaluit on Jan. 2, 2015 for causing a disturbance. RCMP placed him in the cell just after 8 p.m.
The nine-minute long video begins with Ejetsiak being thrown into the cell by RCMP officers, with his pants around his ankles.
Later, an officer with a Taser enters the cell, along with two other officers, who remove his clothing. As the officers begin to leave the cell, Ejetsiak gets up and starts walking towards them. One officer pushes him back, and Ejetsiak kicks at him.
The officer grabs him by the wrist and appears to hit him in the head. He pushes Ejetsiak back onto the bench, then to the floor.
After the officers leave, Ejetsiak crouches on the floor, almost motionless, as a pool of what appears to be blood forms under his face.
At the time the video was made public, RCMP said it was taken out of context.
They said Ejetsiak acted as if he might be a danger to himself.
Police also alleged Ejetsiak was agitated and appeared as if he might assault the officers.
Today, the RCMP will not elaborate on those comments.