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Mounties are conducting an internal review after a video circulating on social media shows an officer kneeing and punching a man while he was on the ground during an arrest.
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On Wednesday, RCMP received a complaint of intoxicated people causing a disturbance at the Flamingo Inn in High Level.
One officer was first to arrive on scene and found a man in a “very intoxicated state” and attempted to arrest him, police said in a news release.
Police said the man refused to follow commands and “a physical interaction occurred.”
The 30-second video shows a man lying on the ground between two trucks. Two people are standing off on either side watching. The video shows an officer kneeing the man multiple times, kneeling him on his head, then punching him as a second officer arrives.
The first officer then knees the man three more times while the second officer appears to be holding the man. He is then brought up to a sitting position when the video ends. He did not appear to be in handcuffs.
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In the news release, RCMP said after the arrival of the second officer, the man was “successfully brought under control without further incident.”
Police did not say if the man was injured or if he was facing any charges.
“High Level RCMP are conducting an internal review at this time with reference to the behaviors presented and the officers conduct,” the news release states.
“The Alberta RCMP believes in processes that seek the facts and it’s important that processes taken to assess the actions of all those involved, including the police, are fair, transparent, and defendable. RCMP training, policy, police response, and the member’s duty status will be subject to review.”