Pubdate: Tue, 05 May 2009
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kent Spencer, The Province

WRONG DOOR, WRONG ASSAULT

Three Men Seek Redress After Dog Attack, Assault

The RCMP has apologized to three men who were bitten by a police dog
and assaulted after officers knocked on the wrong door.

"I was terrified," Iranian-born Emad Hovaizavi said in a statement
yesterday of the incident at his apartment on Nov. 7 in Surrey. "I was
in extreme pain and shock." Hovaizavi, Mohammed Bosir and Seyedmorteza
Ghadiriasli have launched a complaint against the RCMP with the
Commission for Public Complaints.

They want an investigation into police actions, discipline for the
officers involved, a review of police practices and compensation for
their bites and bruises.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Peter Thiessen said the men were "mistakenly
arrested" in a Surrey apartment after officers banged on the wrong
door.

"Two of the occupants were bitten by a police dog," he said in a
statement. "The Surrey RCMP acknowledge their error and have made
every effort to mitigate this situation." The incident occurred in
Hovaizavi's apartment at Suite 205 in the 13600-block 105A Avenue in
Surrey.

Hovaizavi was preparing a spaghetti dinner for his guests when police
banged on the door about 11 p.m., demanding the occupants come out of
"206." "Sir, we're in 205," Hovaizavi told them.

As the door was burst open, the three men glimpsed black-clad members
of the Emergency Response Team dressed in balaclavas. Laser beams from
rifles targeted them and a dog was set loose.

"It was scary. The dog was gigantic, with a head like a lion," said
Bosir, 40.

"I felt the crunch of my bones as the dog bit into my right shin,"
said Hovaizavi, 36.

Bosir said he was handcuffed and "kicked in the ribs." Later, the dog
broke free and "viciously" bit Hovaizavi in the leg again as he lay
handcuffed on the floor, he said.

Some time later, Bosir said, ERT Cpl. Dan Pons told them there had
been an "error." Police recovered a machete, axe and multiple ounces
of crack cocaine from a nearby apartment.

The bleeding victims were taken to hospital.

"The police sent in a dog when they didn't know who was in there,"
said the men's lawyer, Craig Costantino.

"It's hard to believe police didn't see it was the wrong door. It has
big numerals," he said. "I don't know how to explain police actions."
Hovaizavi, who runs a convenience store, said he was reminded of a
previous experience "at the hands of the security police in Iran."
Ghadiriasli, 47, said he needs sleep medication to cope with
"nervousness and fear" since the incident.

Bosir said he may have suffered "nerve damage" requiring
surgery.

Ghadiriasli and Bosir sell telephone cards.

Thiessen said victims' support services have been provided and a
home-care nurse made available.

He said the RCMP have received recommendations as a result of an
independent officer review, which the force is considering.

Costantino said the men had "no criminal records," but a search showed
otherwise.

Ghadiriasli was found guilty of assault and breaching court-release
conditions on March 27 in Port Coquitlam. The assault stemmed from an
incident on Oct. 25, 2008, in Coquitlam. 
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