The footage, captured by a surveillance video, shows 19-year-old Alexis Vadeboncoeur lying face down in the snow, with his arms outstretched as four Trois-Rivières municipal police officers approach.
It shows him being kicked and punched by officers as he lies on the ground, surrendering.
The footage was released on Thursday in the Trois-Rivières courthouse during the suspect's bail hearing.
The incident began when police were called to a suspected robbery at a pharmacy on Des Récollets Boulevard on Feb. 2.
They chased the suspect, who was hooded and armed, to a parking lot near the Trois-Rivières Cégep, where the surveillance footage was captured.
In the video footage, Vadeboncoeur can be seen tossing his firearm away from him as he surrenders and lies down on his stomach in the parking lot.
In their police report, officers said the teen had broken into a business. They reported they had to use force because their lives were in danger.
Quebec provincial police Sgt. Gregory Gomez del Prado said the force's internal affairs division is investigating.
Disturbs Trois-Rivières mayor
Trois-Rivières Mayor Yves Lévesque said Friday he was not happy with the way police proceeded with the arrest.
He said he first heard of the violent arrest through the media.
"It disturbs me as mayor," he said of the footage. "We're not happy with what we see."
Lévesque said his administration will closely follow the investigation. He said he is ready to take action based on its findings.
Vadeboncoeur's defence lawyer René Duval says he has practised law in every province in Canada and does not know of any other case where video footage shows police repeatedly hitting an individual without provocation.
The four police officers have been suspended with pay for an undetermined amount of time.
Source: CBC
Author: cbc
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