Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 The Abbotsford Times Contact: http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009 Author: Rochelle Baker. The Times APD OFFICER CLEARED An Abbotsford Police officer has been absolved in an abuse of authority complaint in connection to an incident where he broke the finger of a man when he grabbed his camera on April 10, 2008. Const. Alex Wood was cleared in a public hearing by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) to determine whether he used excessive force or unlawfully seized a camera while dealing with Jonathan Peters. Wood was one of a number of officers involved in a drug bust at a house on Crescent Way, and Peters was on scene hoping to get photos of the raid. Wood, responsible for containing the scene, repeatedly asked Peters to leave the area for his own security. Wood also told Peters he risked arrest for obstruction if he didn't leave. Peters did not leave, and continued to take photos, responding it "was a free country" and he had permission from the owner to be on the property of a house directly across the street from the raid. Wood then approached Peters and asked for his camera. When Peters clutched the camera to his chest, Wood pried the camera out of his hands, breaking the pinkie finger of the man's left hand. Peters filed a complaint with the police department in September. APD Chief Bob Rich reviewed an investigation into the incident and decided the complaints were unsubstantiated. The OPCC requested a review and on second examination Rich reached the same decision. In February 2010, the OPCC decided a public hearing was necessary. OPCC adjudicator Timothy Singh determined Wood acted lawfully when directing Peters to leave the scene and that the use of force employed by the officer was commensurate with the resistance offered by Peters. Singh also noted that Peters told APD he'd withdraw the complaint if they paid him $5,000. While Peters wasn't paid, Singh also noted it took the APD an unreasonable amount of time to return the man's camera. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.