[Vancouver police issued this formal statement
following the VPD beating of Yao Wei Wu.
The next day, Jan. 22, the VPD retracted
its claim that Wu resisted police.]
Police Apologize
2010-01-21
Vancouver Police have formally and personally apologized to a 44 year old city man who was arrested in a case of mistaken identity.
In the early morning hours of January 12 [should be January 21], 2010, two plain-clothes VPD officers were responding to a 911 call of a domestic incident. They were told by dispatch that a woman called to report that her drunken husband was hitting her and she was concerned for the safety of their baby.
The officers responded to a southeast Vancouver home, but didn’t realize there were two separate residences in the house. Unfortunately for all involved, they knocked on the wrong door and encountered a middle-aged man who didn’t understand English very well and would later say he didn’t realize the men at his door were police.
The man resisted by striking out at the police and trying to slam the door, but the officers persisted in the belief that there may be a woman and child inside who could be in danger.
The man was arrested and received minor injuries to his face in the process. Police called for medical assistance and the man was transported to VGH as a precautionary measure. Cantonese speaking officers were also called to explain to the family why the police had made this mistake.
The VPD regrets any inconvenience or trauma this may have caused the family.
In related information, police did respond to the correct suite immediately after, where they met the complainant who said her drunken partner had hit her in the back of the head following an argument and then fled.
Police located the man nearby and arrested him for assault.
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