A video circulating on social media showing an RCMP officer in Port Alberni, British Columbia, using excessive force while arresting a 33-year-old suspect has sparked widespread backlash and criticism from the community. The incident took place in an alley on Sunday, August 17, 2025, and the video shows one of the officers striking the suspect multiple times, including twice with his elbow in the head. Notably, the final blow was delivered while the man was face down on the ground, showing no signs of resistance.

Witnesses at the scene recorded the video and repeatedly warned the officer to stop the beating. “Enough!” one witness shouted, while another added, “If you can’t control your anger, you shouldn’t be an officer.” Stacey Little, another witness who posted the video on Facebook, told CTV News that there was no justification for the use of force, adding, “Oh my God, it was completely unnecessary. But this is not unusual for the Perth-Alberni RCMP; that’s their reputation.”

The video quickly went viral on social media, garnering more than 465,000 views and angry comments, prompting RCMP station commander Inspector Kim Bruce to defend the officer’s actions and explain that the video does not show the full context and observations prior to the arrest. “While the use of force by police may be distressing to witnesses, the totality of the circumstances must be considered. The criminal code authorizes us to use force and we do not take this lightly,” she said.

Perth-Alberni RCMP said in a statement that the incident began when officers were called to “remove an unwanted person” from a local business. The suspect, who had apparently violated a restraining order, was pursued and confronted by officers. The statement said the suspect was carrying a sharp object and was not following police orders, forcing officers to use force to prevent further injury.

In the released video, one of the officers can be seen throwing a small object away and then handcuffing the suspect. After taking the suspect away from the scene, the officer walks past without immediately removing the object. Little said the suspect did not attack the officer and did not have any dangerous objects in his possession, stressing that the amount of force used was unnecessary.

Neighbors at the scene, seen in the video, repeatedly urged the officer to stop hitting them and became very angry after the incident. The suspect was taken to Perth Alberni RCMP headquarters after his arrest and was being held in custody pending a court appearance. Police have not yet released details of any potential charges.

The incident has sparked widespread debate about the use of force by police and the transparency of officers' actions in street arrests, and has raised concerns among the local community about police conduct. Many social media users and human rights activists have called for an independent and transparent investigation into the case to ensure that the suspects' rights are respected.

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