Graphic video sparks conversation around how police interact with Indigenous and marginalized communities

Reaction is pouring in after CHCH News obtained the disturbing video of an Indigenous man being arrested by Hamilton police. Family members have said the video needs to be shown but a warning the images are graphic.

“They’re stomping him on the head…” The video shows Patrick Tomchuk on the ground, struggling under the grip of plain-clothed police officers, at one point, he appears unresponsive.

An Indigenous elder from Hamilton, Wilamina McGrimmond, says it was hard to watch yet another example of violence take place in the hands of those who are supposed to protect.

“Growing up, that was always the normal way that the RCMP treated the First Nations peoples… and even here in the city with the city police, it’s all the same,” McGrimmond said.

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’ National Vice Chief Kim Beaudin says reaction to the video stretched across the country. “We’re lucky that that video was recorded, or we would never have known what would have happened,” Beaudin said.

The video was filmed at a Hamilton Mountain gas station on May 26th. Tomchuk was charged with assault, stealing vehicles, resisting arrest and a number of court-related breaches. Those charges have not yet been proven in court.

The video has sparked more conversation surrounding how police interact with the Indigenous and other marginalized communities.

The police watchdog, or Special Investigation Unit, was contacted but they decided not to invoke their mandate. Constable Brian Wren was suspended and charged with assault on June 16th following an internal investigation within Hamilton police.

Last week Tomchuk’s family demanded change. Tomchuk’s family also wants an investigation to be conducted into whether the officer’s actions constitute a hate crime.

Tomchuk is currently out on bail and returns to court in September.

Constable Wren returns to court on August 18th.