RCMP officer sued by brain-injured man for jail cell takedown faces new allegations

An RCMP officer who was involved in a 2012 jail cell takedown that left a B.C. man with permanent brain damage, is now facing allegations of using excessive force in the arrests of two other First Nations men.

Documents filed in a civil suitagainstConst. BrianHeidemanallege the incidents took place inApril and May 2012 weeks after his confrontation with Robert Wright, who is also aboriginal.

None of the threecases resulted incriminal charges against Heideman.

"Normally you would say this kind of thing is shocking, but unfortunately I don't find it particularly shocking that there are allegations of other violence by this officer against different First Nations individuals," said Josh Paterson with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

Paterson said if the allegations of violence are proven to be true, it would be "extremely troubling" if Heideman was continuing to act as an officer.

• Manalleges takedown by officer caused brain damage
• Rob Wright jail cell takedown renews calls for investigation

Thecourtdocumentsalso sayHeidemanadmitted he lost abag of cocaine, a crucialpart of a separatedrug investigation, and usedsteroids on the job.

"Most Canadians, if they found out a member of theRCMPhad lost a bag of cocaine, had been using steroids illegally, andhadused excessive force on three First Nations persons and those allegations were all true, and I don't know if they are probably wouldn't want that person remaining as a member of theRCMP," Wright's lawyer, J. Scott Stanley told CBC News.

Wright is suing for damages in civil court.

WARNING: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE - Robert Wright in RCMP lockup RAW

10 years ago

Duration 2:06

Surveillance video shows Robert Wright being thrown to the ground by an arresting officer

The new informationaboutHeideman emerged in affidavits filed by Stanley on Dec. 9 inB.C. Supreme Court.

The documents quote testimony, given under oath, by both the constable and his former supervisor, Terrace RCMP Inspector John Dana Hart, during their examinations for discovery a disclosure of facts to Wright's lawyer before the civil case is heard.

Stanley has asked the court to forceHeidemanto answer additional questions he refused to answer during the closed-door examination for discoveryearlier this year.

There were two internal police hearings into claims of excessive force againstHeidemanin the cases of Wright anda second First Nations man, but the outcomes are unknownas information about internal discipline is protected under the Privacy Act, according to theRCMP.

CBC News obtained a video of the incident between Wright and Heideman in 2014.

The video showsthen 48-year-oldWrightbeing taken to the ground in a concrete jail cell.Wright was thrownbackwards as he knelt on a bench in a cell.Heidemanwas accused of taking steroids around the same time in 2012.

Heidemanwascensuredfor involvement with steroidsand docked eight days pay in 2014.He is nowstationed in Vernon, B.C.TheRCMPsaid it was inappropriate for them tocomment onHeideman'sstatus since the matter is before the courts.

Heidemanhas been cleared of other complaints in the past, including one from Edmonton where he was involved in a high-speed car chase that left two teens, who fled police,dead.

NeitherHeideman, nor his lawyer, hasresponded to the new allegations,which have yet to be proven in court.