Incident Title

Two men assaulted while handcuffed during arrest; officer charged and convicted

Incident ID

221192

Incident Description

In the early morning of December 15, 2008, Lauchlin Torry and Jean-Marc Viau were pulled over by Constable Haoyin Zheng during a vehicle stop near 145 Street and 104 Avenue. Torry and Viau were ordered out of the truck, which was later found to have been stolen. Police searched the men and found a piece of a coat hanger in Torry’s back pocket. While being handcuffed and put into the back of the police car, Torry and Viau report that they were beaten by Zheng.

Torry testified in court that Zheng yelled at him, called him a “druggie”, and punched him on the cheek. During the trial, Constable Brad Stiksma testified that he heard Torry yell for help and noticed a fresh red scrape on his chin. Earlier in the trial, Viau testified that he was sitting handcuffed in the back of the police cruiser when Zheng leaned in, struck him with a flashlight three times, and repeatedly punched him in the head. After reporting pain in his ribs, Viau was taken to the hospital following the arrest. Viau was treated for bruising and was later released from the hospital.

Zheng was charged with two counts of assault and one count of assault with a weapon in the alleged beating of Lauchlin Torry and Jean-Marc Viau. The judge ruled that Zheng used excessive force against Viau and he was found guilty of assault, receiving a conditional discharge, 12 months probation, and restriction to administrative duties. Zheng would later be convicted of another assault charge in an on-duty incident from 2010 and would resign from the Edmonton Police Service.

Incident Date

12/15/2008

Incident City

Edmonton

Incident Neighbourhood

Grovenor

Type of Abuse

Physical violence

Injuries Incurred

Bruising;
Scrapes;
Pain in the ribs

Weapon used

Fists;
Flashlight

Victim Gender

Man

Man

Victim Sexual Orientation

Not listed

Authority Involved

Edmonton Police Service

Officer Name

Haoyin Zheng

Officer Badge Number

2762

Submission Source

External Database Import

Submission Source Affiliation

Alberta Police Misconduct Database

Submission Source Link

Alberta Police Misconduct Database

Collection

Alberta Police Misconduct Database

Additional Details

APMD original incident ID: i-ztOr9zBCckTb7M

Multimedia Type

PDF

Linked Incidents

Victim hit repeatedly by officer in on-duty assault; officer resigns after conviction

Archive Publication Date

August 9, 2022

Archive Last Update

August 9, 2022

Tags

assault;
Alberta Police Misconduct Database

Confidentiality/Restrictions

From published source

Complaint Resolution

Officer Zheng was convicted of assault and sentenced to probation.

Media Coverage

CTV News, December 16, 2008

CBC, March 22, 2012

Edmonton Sun, March 23, 2012

CBC, February 17, 2011

CBC, June 10, 2010

CBC, June 11, 2010