Manitoba’s police watchdog the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) is looking into an allegation that a man was assaulted by a Winnipeg Police officer while on his way homw from work.

According to the complainant he was riding his bike around 3:00 am on April 12, 2019, when a police car stopped abruptly in front of him. The officer told th man he matched the description of a wanted white male on a bike with a backpack. The man says police demanded he hand over his backpack but he refused. He says that at this point the officer used pepper on him and threatened him with his baton.

IIU civilian director, Zane Tessler, has determined that although no serious injuries occurred as a result of the incident it is in the public interest to investigate.

The IIU is asking anyone who may have seen the incident to call them at 1-844-667-6060.