BC News has obtained video that shows a Windsor, Ont.,
police officer beating a doctor who is legally blind.
Det. David Van Buskirk,
who attacked Dr. Tyceer Abouhassan on April 22, 2010, pleaded guilty Thursday
to assault causing bodily harm.
Video cameras at the
Jackson Park Health Centre captured the beating, although much of the physical
altercation is slightly out of frame. Afterwards, Van Buskirk wrote in his
report that the doctor ""immediately reached out and grabbed my
throat and pushed me backward."
In pleading guilty, Van
Buskirk admitted that Abouhassan "did not strike him at all." He also
confirmed that all of the doctor's reaction "was in lawful resistance to
being assaulted by the accused."
Julian Falconer, the
lawyer representing Abouhassan, told CBC News that "in the face of denials
by this officer and allegations that my client attacked, I think it's essential
that the public see this."
Abouhassan, who is
legally blind, suffered a broken nose, bruised ribs, a torn eyelid and detached
retina in the beating.
Adding insult to injury,
he was subsequently charged with assaulting a peace officer following the
initial investigation by Windsor police, including Det.-Sgts. Paul Bridgeman
and Patrick Keane.
Bridgeman watched the
video between eight and 10 times before endorsing assault charges against
Abouhassan, according to the office of the independent review director.
Both Bridgeman and Keane
were charged with discreditable conduct for trying to prevent Abouhassan from
filing criminal charges against Van Buskirk. Both were later exonerated.
Falconer said this case
is the poster child for the failure of the police disciplinary hearings and a
huge embarrassment for Windsor police.
"This was a vicious
beating of an innocent doctor-turned-cover-up-turned-conspiracy, pure and
simple. And our discipline apparatus couldn't do a thing about it,"
Falconer said.
Abouhassan has filed a
lawsuit seeking more that $14 million in damages from the Windsor Police
Department, seven of its officers and Smith, the former chief.
Van Buskirk is due to be
sentenced on the assault charge Wednesday. Acting police chief Al Frederick has
reserved comment until then.