Read this in the paper over the weekend... another case of police harrassment of a local Mass... grr...

www.canada.com/topics/new.../story.html


Cyclists' demonstration ends with allegations of police brutality

Jen Skerritt, CanWest News Service; Winnipeg Free Press
Published: Sunday, May 28, 2006

WINNIPEG -- One of eight cyclists arrested after he rode his bike with a group of 60 people through downtown Winnipeg Friday alleges police used excessive, and often brutal, force in an attempt to push their peaceful demonstration off the road.

University of Manitoba student Aaron Levere, 29, said he watched as an officer grabbed his friend, Beau Burton, from his bicycle and pinned him to the ground while the officer roughly pressed his knee against Burton's neck.

Levere said he couldn't stand watching his friend writhing in pain, and grabbed his arm to try to pull him away from police.

"He was screaming," Levere said. "He was in a lot of pain."

Police intercepted the monthly ride of Critical Mass Winnipeg a group of cyclists involved in a global movement to promote biking as a healthier mode of transportation early Friday evening.

Witnesses said police rounded up a group of cyclists and loaded them into a paddy wagon to take them into custody.

Winnipeg police duty Insp. Steve Pilote said Friday that a police bicycle unit escorted the protesters until an "incident" required the officers to call for backup.

He declined to provide further details Saturday and would not confirm how many cyclists were arrested or what charges they were facing.

"It wouldn't be appropriate to comment at this time," he said.

"But if anyone feels that they've been dealt with unfairly, I would encourage them to file a complaint with LERA."

The Law Enforcement Review Agency is an independent body that investigates complaints against police.

Levere said he was one of eight cyclists arrested and taken into police custody until he was released later Friday night. Levere was charged with obstructing a police officer and is not allowed to contact any of the other cyclists who were arrested or ride his bike downtown until his court date in July.

According to Levere, one of the cyclists was charged with assault for allegedly punching a plainclothes officer who grabbed him.

Levere is now talking to lawyers to see if police were within legal parameters or if he could file a complaint against them.

"No one was swinging or swearing at police," he said, noting he's ridden with Critical Mass in other cities like Victoria and has never seen such a big confrontation. "It was just people making an effort to ensure no one was arrested by police."

Before the evening erupted into chaos, Molly McCracken, a local consultant and group member, said the ride was running smoothly until they turned onto a street where a police cruiser blocked their path.

McCracken was riding near the front of the pack when she said officers told the group to disperse and get off the road. Although they were taking up every westbound lane of traffic on the busy downtown route, McCracken said the cyclists were moving at a fast pace and were not disrupting traffic.

McCracken said cyclists began arguing with police that they had a right to use the road. When a man yelled "everyone stick together," she said a cyclist was grabbed from behind by the neck by a police officer who not in uniform.

"It was like a general frenzy," she said. "Police started grabbing people who tried to move or get away."

Levere said he heard of at least one cyclist who needed stitches.

Ian Mauro, a PhD student at the University of Manitoba said Critical Mass has always been a non-violent group that promotes safety and health since it began in San Francisco in the early 1990s. He said their monthly celebration and promotion of cycling was unfairly interrupted by police, who endangered the safety of group members, which include children and working professionals.

"It was a shocking thing," he said. "That's not my idea of a fun day. It was demented."