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VICTORIA – A Victoria Police Officer accused of abusing his authority is speaking publicly about it for the first time.
Constable Chris Bowser testified today at a B.C. Police Complaint Public Hearing about the arrest that was caught on video and went viral, spawning widespread accusations he and another officer used excessive force.
Three investigations already cleared the officers, but B.C.’s Complaint Commissioner isn’t so sure.
Bowser testified that when he and four other officers arrived at a brawl outside a downtown nightclub, he feared what he would find.
Describing it as perhaps the worst brawl in his career, Bowser told the hearing he was out-numbered.
He testified, with other officers scattering to break up the fight and no response to calls for back-up, he felt alone and concerned for the safety of his team.
Bowser says in March 2010, VicPD had no resources to deal with growing gang activity and problems in bars.
Relying on officers willing to take overtime and volunteer reserve constables, a task force was put together to handle the issue.
The Vic-PD officer was in charge of that that team, checking bars and nightclubs, when it stumbled on the fight.
Bowser and Constable Brendan Robinson are accused of abusing their authority during the arrest of Tyler Archer during the brawl.
Explaining his kicks and knee strikes during arrests, Bowser says Archer and another suspect posed a risk when their hands were around their waists.
The officer testified at any time a suspect could pull a knife and kill a person in a second.
And in a rare moment of drama, Bowser was asked to act out how Archer approached him that night. The officer demonstrated that Archer came toward him quickly and deliberately with “a thousand yard stare.”
But under cross examination, the lawyer for Tyler Archer pointed out that in three statements to investigators and at a previous hearing Bowser made no mention of the stare or the concern of suspects having their hands anywhere near their waist.
The hearing continues Thursday and is expected to hear from the other officer accused of using excessive force during the arrests.
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