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Kelowna  

Did drunk grab cop's gun?

Tuesday marked day two in the trial of a Kelowna RCMP officer accused of assaulting a man last June.

Const. Grant Jacobson has been on the force for eight years, and was in full uniform assisting with the bar flush about 2 a.m. when the incident occurred.  

At least three officers were standing in the patio area of Rose’s Pub when Jacobson alleges John McCormick, 61, reached for his firearm.

According to Const. Darcy Lawson, who was also working the overtime foot patrol, he saw Jacobsen speaking with a man, but wasn't paying much attention because he had just ran into an old friend.

While Lawson didn’t see McCormick reach for the gun, as it was on the opposite side of him, he did see Jacobson on the verge of arresting McCormick, when he ran over to help.

Lawson didn’t hear or notice any engagement between the two until that point, but says as Jacobson went to arrest the man, McCormick put his hands up in resistance and the constable was forced to put a move on McCormick which took him to the ground. He then punched him at least three times in the mid section and kneed him once.

The whole incident took seconds and was captured on surveillance video.

Lawson said he doesn’t remember if it was him or Jacobson who actually put the cuffs on McCormick. He testified McCormick was intoxicated, swearing and yelling things that implied he didn’t "care much for police."

While McCormick didn’t appear injured to Lawson, he did seem confused as to why he was being arrested, claiming he never reached for the firearm.

Const. Brent Edwards was on general duty the night of the incident and was called to the scene to transport McCormick.

Edwards said McCormick was clearly intoxicated and did not go willing into the patrol car. He continued to ask why he had been arrested. 

Edwards testified he had worked with Jacobsen several times and that he was always professional.

At the detachment, McCormick was processed by Commissionaire jail supervisor David Jones, who told the court his impression of the prisoner was that he was intoxicated, slurring and yelling that he didn’t know why he was there.

When asked if McCormick appeared injured, Jones said he had some blood on him.

Jacobson also took the stand on Tuesday, testifying he had been conducting a foot patrol, a job he had done many times. He said all three foot patrol members that night were at Rose’s Bar during closing, as it was very busy.

Trained in special self defence, as well as firearm and Taser use, Jacobsen said he knows how to deal with weapon retaliation and there are methods that can be used depending on the situation. However, “100 per cent speed and aggression” must be used when someone tries to take an officer’s firearm.

He remains firm that McCormick grabbed at his weapon. 

Jacobson continues to work as as fully operational constable at the Kelowna detachment.



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