Cassidy Olivier, B.C. (The Province) – The victim of an alleged police beating is suing the RCMP officer in charge of the Surrey detachment, claiming officials should have known Const. Imran Saeed’s previous aggressions made him a danger to the public.
Court documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court by the lawyer of Christopher Stojak claim Saeed allegedly assaulted Stojak the night of May 19, 2009, as the Surrey man sat cuffed in a police cruiser.
Saeed had, just three months earlier, allegedly dragged Trina Westad of Surrey from her car and slammed her to the ground following a routine traffic stop. A lawsuit for that matter is before the courts.
Both the Stojak and Westad incidents resulted in criminal charges (Saeed is accused of assaulting another man in the Stojak incident) and RCMP code of conduct probes. Trial dates have been scheduled for next June.
According to the latest statement of claim, Saeed punched Stojak in the head and face at least three times after officers attended Stojak’s residence in response to an alleged domestic disturbance.
Before Saeed arrived at the scene, the writ claims, Stojak was verbally and physically assaulted by constables Spearns and Large, both of whom are named in the civil suit in addition to Saeed.
Combined, the beatings resulted in injuries to Stojak’s wrists, neck, face, left shoulder and hand, as well as depression, anxiety, embarrassment and shame, fear of police and post traumatic stress, claims the suit.
Stojak is seeking unspecified damages.
Also named is the minister of public safety, the solicitor-general and the officer in charge of the Surrey detachment, who is not listed by name.
The writ accuses the officer in charge of the detachment of negligence for failing to properly monitor or train Saeed in the wake of the alleged February 2009 assault on Westad.
Saeed, 31, was reassigned to administrative duties with the Surrey RCMP on July 24, 2009, where he remains active, said RCMP Const. Annie Linteau.
In explaining the delay between the first alleged beating and Saeed’s reassignment, Linteau said allegations against members have to be fully investigated before action can be taken.
She said the RCMP would not be commenting on the matter pending the outcome of both criminal trials. And it will be at the end of the trials that the code of conduct investigations will be concluded, she added.
Details listed in a statement of claim are unproven until upheld in court.
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