UPDATE: The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) is investigating the incident involving the innocent bystander, Vick Supramaniam, who was injured in a police raid in New Westminster on Monday. The IIO said the focus of the investigation will be to determine if any officer may have committed an offence as a result of the injuries suffered by the male bystander. A female civilian was also injured during the incident but the IIO is not investigating because her injuries do not meet the criteria of serious harm.
An innocent bystander suffered serious injuries during a police raid in New Westminster on Monday.
Vick Supramaniam said his thigh was bitten by a Vancouver police dog and part of his left ear was ripped off.
“I was so scared and I thought I was just going to die,” he told Global News from his hospital room.
Supramaniam, 26, was collateral damage in Monday’s police chase and takedown that targeted alleged suspects related to a double homicide and kidnapping in East Vancouver. He said he was driving to Home Depot when he heard sirens and pulled over. Moments later, his dark blue Mazda was smashed by a vehicle that was being pursued by police.
“I started seeing smoke going on in the white Acura,” Supramaniam said. “My instincts were not to stay in the car. What if it catches fire or something like that? I didn’t know where the smoke was coming from. The moment I got out, I heard shots. I took cover behind the bus stop bench.”
The next thing he remembers is being attacked by a police dog.
“The dog bit me and dragged me all the way down the hill. All I saw was just blood all over me and I kept telling them, ‘I’m innocent’…they just didn’t listen.”
Supramaniam said the attack has put his future plans in doubt. He is studying to be a pilot and is not sure if the injury to his ear will affect his ability to wear a headset while flying.
When asked what he wants from police, Supramaniam said he “wants them to answer for what they did. It’s just not fair.”
At a press conference Tuesday, Vancouver Police Acting Sgt. Brian Montague described the incident as “extremely unfortunate.”
“We apologize that someone from the public had to get caught up in something like that…our officers are reaching out to the family to see if there is anything we can do to help them.”
Supramaniam said he realized it was a chaotic scene, but he believes what happened to him was an abuse of police power. He said he will likely need plastic surgery and that his long-term prognosis is unknown.
– With files from Rumina Daya
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