A security guard at a downtown discount store is accused of beating and threatening to kill an Indigenous man in an incident that was captured on video and has raised concern among First Nations groups.
“It’s quite clear, through the video evidence that was collected and provided and reported to police, that there was definitely an excessive use of force… during this incident,” Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said Tuesday, after police announced the guard will be facing criminal charges.
The video, which was shared online, shows a man wearing an Impact Security uniform slamming another man onto the floor at the Dollarama on Portage Avenue. The man on the floor is slapped, punched and kicked. The security guard appears to be wearing brass knuckles.
Police say he threatened to kill the man, who is covering his head in the video.
On Monday, police said foot patrol officers were called to the store Saturday afternoon and arrested a 46-year-old man, who had tried to leave the store without paying for about $95 worth of merchandise, before he was stopped by the 23-year-old guard.
On Tuesday, police said the shoplifter had threatened to kill the guard and assaulted him when he was stopped. The guard tackled the shoplifter and assaulted him while he was on the ground, police said.
At first, only the accused shoplifter was charged — with robbery and uttering threats — but after police learned about the video on Sunday, major crimes detectives continued to investigate and arrested the guard Monday evening.
The guard is facing charges of assault with a weapon, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon and uttering threats. Police seized a pair of brass knuckles — a prohibited weapon.
A security guard and a man are seen at Dollorama in an image from a video circulating over social media.
The guard, whose name wasn’t made public because he hasn’t been formally charged in court, was released on an undertaking.
Chancy said he could not recall an instance in which a store security guard was arrested for assaulting a shoplifter, although he said police have charged bar and nightclub bouncers for using excessive force.
Security guards are allowed to use reasonable and necessary force to defend themselves or to arrest someone they believe is committing a crime, in the same way a regular citizen can, before handing the suspect to police, said Chancy.
“If they find somebody that’s committing an indictable offence or another crime on the property that they are protecting, they can use and they may use reasonable or necessary force to make that arrest,” said Chancy.
That force must not be excessive, said the police spokesman.
The video prompted outrage and a protest outside the store Monday evening. Speakers said they had witnessed violence against Indigenous people at Winnipeg stores and called on the city and province to suspend and review contracts with Impact Security.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the video raises concern about use-of-force practices and the way First Nations people are treated in public. It said it had filed a complaint with the provincial government, which regulates security guards.
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People protest outside the Dollarama on Portage Avenue on Monday afternoon.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said he’s seen the video but would not comment on it directly, citing the police investigation.
“What I will say, is we’ve been working very closely with the community and the security guard industry around enhancing training for security guards… We know that… a lot of companies, businesses, they want to use private security because they want to be part of the solution of making not only their business safer, but whole communities safer… we support that work,” said Wiebe on Tuesday.
“They want to make sure that they’re getting folks that are properly trained, that have an understanding of cultural sensitivity and training that will allow them to de-escalate situations. That’s our goal, to provide that ability, that training.”
He said the government will have more to say about the matter “shortly.” The minister added the government is looking at legislative changes, but stressed its priority has been on training.
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Eric Robinson, who was deputy premier under a former NDP government, has been calling on the province to mandate cultural awareness training for security guards. He and others from the Indigenous community met with government officials and private security firms last year to lobby for the changes.
On Tuesday, Robinson called the video of the incident “troubling.”
“We have to find ways of improving our relationship with the (security) companies and Indigenous peoples.”
He said when he and others have raised concern about the treatment of Indigenous people by security guards, they’ve been told they’re crying wolf.
“It’s really unfortunate that these things must occur, because we’re all struggling in society, and what that showed was a blatant disregard for another human being,” said Robinson.
He said he hopes the incident sparks change.
“I hope that improvements will result as a result of this unfortunate incident,” Robinson said, adding he’s confident the justice minister wants changes, too.
“We have to find ways of improving our relationship with the (security) companies and Indigenous peoples.”
Impact Security has not returned requests for comment since the controversy started.
On Monday, Dollarama spokeswoman Lyla Radmanovich said the national chain does not authorize use of force. The contracted security guard involved would not be assigned to work at Dollarama stores in the future, she said, adding the company was co-operating with police.
Dollarama put the security firm on notice, as the company began probing why its protocol wasn’t followed in the incident, she said.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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