Delta police will lead an investigation into the detention and arrest of an Indigenous man and his 12-year-old granddaughter at a Vancouver branch of the Bank of Montreal in December.
On Tuesday, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) announced that it had ordered the independent investigation.
“The OPCC became aware of the matter through media reporting and complaints from the public,” said the OPCC in a statement. “Information was requested from the Vancouver Police Department and as a result, the Police Complaint Commissioner has concluded an investigation into the matter is required.”
The Police Act provides an authority for the Police Complaint Commissioner to order an investigation into the conduct of a police officer if the officer’s conduct would, if substantiated, constitute misconduct. The investigation will include any other potential misconduct or attempted misconduct which may have occurred. The investigation will also consider any Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Police Board policies, procedures or training that may be a factor in this incident. Given the nature of this matter and the public comments of the Vancouver Police Department, the Commissioner has also determined that it is in the public interest the investigation be conducted by an agency other than the Vancouver Police Department.
“It is important that there be a thorough and independent investigation of this matter,” said Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner Andrea Spindler. “The investigation will carefully examine and assess the circumstances of this incident including the legal authority to detain, arrest and use restraining devices such as handcuffs as well as any relevant questions of policy or training.”
CBC News broke the story Jan. 9 involving Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter, who were at the Bank of Montreal branch at Burrard and Dunsmuir streets Dec. 20 to open a bank account for the girl.
The CBC story said Johnson, 56, and his granddaughter used government-issued Indian Status cards, his birth certificate and her medical card in an attempt to open an account.
The story said an employee of the bank became suspicious and later asked Johnson and his granddaughter to come upstairs, where they were met by two Vancouver police officers.
Johnson lives in Bella Bella, home to the Heiltsuk.
The Bank of Montreal issued a statement via Twitter in response to the story, saying the bank was reviewing what occurred, how it was handled and planned to use it as “a learning opportunity.”
“We value our long and special relationship with Indigenous communities,” the tweet said.
“Recently, an incident occurred that does not reflect us at our best. We deeply regret this and unequivocally apologize to all.”
-with a file from Vancouver Courier
