Bystander who confronted officer during arrest has been arrested

Police say Andrew Burger is charged with obstructing a police officer.

Ajith Thala, who posted the video to Facebook, says that the officer was standing inside the liquor store at Sheridan Mall near Jane Street and Wilson Avenue.

The video also shows various members of the public shouting at the officer, and even trying to pry him off the man being arrested.

During the exchange, one bystander in particular – a man in a Blue Jays jacket – gets within inches of the police officer.

On Wednesday, a Toronto police spokesperson slammed the conduct of bystanders seen surrounding and shouting at a police officer attempting to restrain and arrest a man.

Police are now focused on capturing those on the video being aggressive and physical with the officer during the arrest.

The officer, who was on paid duty at the store, had the authority to determine who was and wasn’t allowed into the store, a police spokesperson said.

In the video, the officer is seen holding the man on the ground while he calls for support from other officers. The officer asked for the man’s ID and was about to issue a trespassing notice when the man allegedly struck him, hitting his vest. None of the people in the video have been identified. Bystanders continue to harass the officer and shout obscenities.

He was then arrested for assaulting an officer.

“The man began to pace back and forth in front of the LCBO and the officer requested back-up”, Pugash said in an email.

“What is especially concerning is that members of the public shout down an officer trying to make a lawful arrest and try to free the person he has in his custody”, he said. He will appear in court sometime next month. “I’m making an arrest” at the beginning of the video.

Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack says the bystanders’ actions in this instance “crossed the line”, and increased the “potential for escalation of force by the officer”.