Pubdate: Tue, 10 May 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: John Bermingham

DEALER TELLS COURT HE WAS PUNCHED

A drug dealer who was beaten up by police in Stanley Park says he was
punched and kicked and told to stay away from Granville Street.

"I had my ear twisted and twisted and twisted," said Jason
Desjardins.

Desjardins said the officer told him: "You are not going to show your
face around Granville, ever again."

Six officers have pleaded guilty to assaulting Desjardins and two
other men on Jan. 14, 2003.

Police Chief Jamie Graham has recommended that two constables, Duncan
Gemmell and Gabriel Kojima, be fired. The Police Complaints Commission
hearing is to determine whether they keep their jobs.

Desjardins, 29, who has 36 convictions, mostly for theft and drug
offences, is in custody on a charge of mischief.

During testimony, he said he was in the 1100-block Granville and had
just smoked a joint when police swooped.

He said an officer punched him in the head, threw him to the ground
and seized his drugs. 
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)