Police Officer Sentenced for Assaulting Homeless Man & Lying About Incident

Kris Eyvindson
Cop Block
Feb. 18, 2014

May 2013 -- While on duty, (former) Police Officer Robert K. Power testified he urged an intoxicated man to check himself into the shelter, but the man refused and when he said he was going to arrest him, he became belligerent.

“F–k you. Do you want to fight me?” Power quoted the man as saying twice.

At trial, Power testified that he had acted in self defense by pushing the man with his HAND who was challenging him to a fight and who had approached with raised fists.

However, Judge Doug Kovatch determined Robert K. Power was lying and based his decision on a video from the detox facility where the incident occurred.

The man approached Power with his hands at his sides and when he got close, Power TOOK ONE STEP FORWARD and KICKED him. The man fell down, hitting his head on cement. The injury left a pool of blood on the ground.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released back to the shelter.

Court heard the man was about 5 feet, six inches tall and no more than 140 pounds, while Power was 6’1″ and at least 215 pounds.

Immediately after the incident, Power told the police service he only pushed the man with his HAND.

Judge Kovatch found that Power’s actions constituted recklessness and excessive force.

The judge said he took into consideration the Crown’s argument that police officers are placed in a position of trust and are authorized and trained to deal with situations in a way ordinary citizens are not, meaning they are to be held to a higher standard.

Kovatch was fired by Regina Police Chief Troy Hagen.

REFERENCE ARTICLES:

http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Former+Regina+police+officer+sentenced+kicking+intoxicated/9513007/story.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/ex-regina-cop-who-kicked-drunk-man-to-be-sentenced-1.2533503

http://news.ca.msn.com/local/saskatchewan/ex-cop-who-kicked-regina-man-convicted-of-assault

http://regina.ctvnews.ca/former-regina-police-officer-gets-conditional-discharge-probation-for-assault-1.1687347