Former officer unsure who was in struggle

Former constable Craig Offin testified before an Edmonton police disciplinary hearing Wednesday that he couldn’t distinguish which of his colleagues were involved in a 2010 struggle that led to allegations of a police beating.

If he had, he said, he wouldn’t have been doing his job — trying to control the suspect’s hands so they couldn’t access possibly concealed weapons.

Offin was one of three officers initially charged with using unnecessary force during the February 2010 arrest of Kasimierz Kozina. He was excused from the disciplinary hearing after tendering his resignation.

The hearing is investigating the actions of constables Jack Redlick and Jason Kemp during a sting operation targeting Kozina.

Offin, who was working as a beat officer on 118th Avenue at the time of the incident, said he had heard numerous reports about Kozina’s alleged drug dealing and violence. One source gave him the phone number that was used to set up the so-called buy-and-bust operation that led to Kozina’s arrest, Offin said.

Offin testified he and his partner were the last to arrive at the scene of the arrest after the undercover officer signalled the drug buy had been completed.

He said heard a male voice say “Show me your hands” and “Stop resisting,” but said he did not hear any of the officers identify themselves as police.

When he ran in to help, Offin said he saw Kozina’s hands balled into fists and flailing.

Offin testified that once Kozina was removed from a car, he hit the ground face down and drew his arms under his chest.

Offin said he punched Kozina twice in the back in an attempt to control one of his arms so another officer could handcuff him.

He said he did not see another officer use force with Kozina.

Once Kozina was handcuffed, Offin said he called out, “We got him. We got him,” and the use of force subsided at that point.

Kozina testified before the hearing that he did not resist arrest and was beaten before and after he was handcuffed. He said he was left with a broken orbital bone.

The hearing also heard Wednesday from Staff Sgt. David DeMarco, an expert on the use of force.

DeMarco said the perceptions of the officers involved are key in assessing use of force.

The hearing is expected to continue until Friday, with testimony from constables Redlick and Kemp.