A former Richmond Mountie involved in the death of Robert Dziekanski has filed a lawsuit against the RCMP, claiming negligence and harassment.
Const. Bill Bentley was one of four officers called to YVR in October 2007 to deal with Polish immigrant Dziekanski, who died as a result of his interaction with police.
Bentley, last week, filed a notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court against the Attorney General of Canada and B.C.’s justice minister.
The suit claims Bentley initially received support from the RCMP commissioner shortly after the incident, but the support faded soon afterwards.
It’s alleged that the RCMP mismanaged the flow of information in the case and, thus, created among the general public a perception of wrongdoing by the Mounties, including allowing Bentley to become a “scapegoat” for criticism.
The lawsuit claims that, “Throughout the ordeal, the plaintiff has been a loyal member of the RCMP and has been prevented from publicly defending himself to the wrongful allegations about him by both the RCMP and the media as a result of his oaths and orders received from superior officers.”
On that fateful night at the airport, four Mounties faced Dziekanski when the Polish immigrant was repeatedly stunned with a Taser and died.
The claims made in the court documents have not been proven in court and a statement of defence has yet to be filed.
All the officers were subsequently charged with perjury for allegedly colluding and giving false testimony at a public inquiry into Dziekanski’s death.
In 2013, Bentley was acquitted, but, so says his claim, the RCMP’s handling of the entire case has had serious psychological impacts on Bentley. The court documents also detail how Bentley was diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder in June 2010.
Bentley has not returned to active duty with the RCMP and he claims his career has been “effectively destroyed.” He does not specify how much compensation he’s seeking.
Const. Gerry Rundel, another officer involved that night, filed a similar suit in March, also claiming RCMP negligence and harassment.
