'Let me breathe': Manitoba RCMP officer dismissed pleas while pinning man's neck in arrest, video shows

WARNING: This story contains video which readers may find disturbing.

Manitoba'spolice watchdog says it will investigate a 2019 incident in which an RCMP officer held his knee on the neck of a man being arrested, who cried out "I can't breathe" repeatedly as he lay helpless for more than four minutes.

Jane MacLatchy, commanding officer of the Manitoba RCMP, said they will examine the totality of events from that night, including the video, which she describes as "very disturbing." At one point, the officer is seen dismissing the pinned man'spleasbecause he could still speak, according to a video shot by the man's father.

The police force only learned about the incident thisweek after the Winnipeg Free Press reported on the suspect's trial, MacLatchy said.

The detailsof the arrest that have emerged have drawn comparisons to death of George Floyd, which came11 months after theManitoba incident. Floyd, whodied under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, gasped "I can't breathe" as he was killed.

The Winnipeg incident, outside the James Richardson International Airport on Aug. 1, 2019, was also captured on video by the father of NathanLasuik, the man who was pinned to the ground.

CBC News hasreceived permission from Lasuikto publish it.

Lasuik is charged with several counts of assault. RCMP say they responded to a report of an intoxicated man who assaulted a person at the airport and then struckanofficer in the face withoutprovocation.

The video was played in court by Lasiuk's defence to argue the RCMP used excessive force in trying to subdue him.

The footage shows an RCMP officer kneeling on Lasuik'sneckand placing the man's face against the ground. The officer does not appear to adjusthis knee, nor the pressure, despite repeated pleas from the man.

WATCH | Video of 2019 arrest (WARNING: this video may be disturbing to viewers):

RCMP detain man at Winnipeg airport (WARNING: video may be disturbing to viewers)

3 years ago

Duration 4:44

Manitoba RCMP detain a man who they say was intoxicated and combative outside the Winnipeg airport in 2019. Video of the arrest was played in court to argue that excessive force was used by RCMP against the man, who was detained and charged with several counts of assault.

"Let me breathe," Lasuikis heard saying early in the video.

"You're breathing. When you're talking, you're breathing," someone shouts back. It's not clear from the video which police officer is speaking.

"Let me breathe, guys. Please, please, let me breathe," Lasuik continues.

"Please nothing," Lasuik is told inresponse. "You opened your mouth one too many times."

Lasuik continues to begthe police officer to relax.

"Now you're a tough guy, aren't you?" he is told.

"I'm not a tough guy, I never was," Lasuik said, as he appears to start crying.

'I was going to die'

Lasuik, whose father was already recording the arrest,calls for someone to take video of the officer's conduct, saying he'sgoing to die.

It doesn't appear the RCMP member relents until around two minutes into the video, when Lasuik starts screaming.

"Just relax," heis told. Lasuik says"thank you, thank you," in response.

Before long, though, he once again sayshe cannot breathe.

A police officer can be heard tellinga bystander to step away,but she stands her ground.

"I'm just making sure that this person can breathe," the bystander says.

Soon, another police officer arrives and asks Lasuikto put his hands behind his back, which he says he can't dobecause he's already in handcuffs.

The other officer pullsLasuik toward him, freeing his neck. "Oh my God, thank you, thank you," Lasuiksays,as he'splaced into a police vehicle. "I was going to die."

Full context missing: police union

At the end of the video, a police officer approaches Lasuik's father to ask if he was recording.

"I have to seize the phone," the officer says, before the video ends.

The union that represents 20,000 RCMP members cautioned against jumping to conclusions based on an "edited video clip."

"It is not fair or accurate for the media or public to speculate on the appropriateness of a specific arrest based on brief and sensational footage. Such decisions should be left to regulators and experts," Brian Sauv, president of the National Police Federation, said in a written statement.

Sauvacknowledged the video is "disturbing to watch," but said it is a small portion of a "much longerincident in which Mr. Lasuik attacked a random stranger while intoxicated which triggered the police response and then repeatedly punched, kicked and attempted to headbutt RCMPmembers who responded to the disturbance by attempting to de-escalate the situation."

Lasuikremains on trial for those charges. A use of force expert will testify when thecourt case resumes on Aug. 31, his lawyer said.

The RCMP isconductingaCode of Conduct investigation and reviewing whether the officer who placed his knee on Lasuik's neck will remain on duty, MacLatchy said in a statement Wednesday.

She found the video to be "very disturbing."

"Hearing a man clearly informing police officers that he cannot breathe is all too present in our collective consciousness," she said, adding the police forcedoes not teach or endorse kneeling on the neckto restrain someone.

"This is a difficult situation for any police officer to deal with. However, a knee to the neck is not the response for which our officers are trained, and this incident needs to be further examined."

Meanwhile, Manitoba's police watchdog says it was informed of the incident on Wednesdayfollowing the initial Winnipeg Free Press report on the trial.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba said in a Thursday news release it is investigating the excessive force allegation.

"While the [unit's] civilian director has determined that public interest demands that an independent investigation be undertaken by IIU in this matter, as the trial remains before the courts, no further details of the incident or comments will be made at this time," the release said.