Hollywood actor DJ Qualls heated up the Twitterverse about his alleged assault at the hands of a Vancouver police officer Friday night in downtown Vancouver.
“Just got out of the ER. Was beaten by a Vancouver police officer for no reason,” he tweeted. “Was not arrested (because I) was innocent. I was handcuffed and bleeding while the cop kept saying to me, ‘You think you’re f—ing better than me?’”
The actor known for his role in teen comedies Road Trip and The New Guy claimed it started after he witnessed a man hitting a woman when he got out of a café and tried to identify one of the attackers to a nearby police officer.
Vancouver police are investigating the claim through their professional standards section. Qualls’ run-in with the police was caught on tape and can be seen on TMZ.
“(The officer) said if I didn’t get out of there, he’d arrest me, I asked why and he tackled me, busted my face and handcuffed me,” Qualls claimed. “Then (he) taunted me for half an hour before the ambulance came. I was held, no calls, no attorney and I had to pay an $ 800 ER bill.”
Qualls said he repeatedly asked for a badge number and identified the officer on Twitter. He demanded an apology from the Vancouver Police Department and full reimbursement of his hospital bills.
Vancouver Police tweeted back at Qualls, who was in town shooting an episode for the TV show Supernatural, and asked him to contact the professional standards section so they can investigate his complaint.
VPD spokesperson Const. Lindsey Houghton said in an email they proactively reached out to Qualls and investigators are assisting him through the complaint process.
Qualls tweeted Sunday that he’s met with VPD representatives and are helping him make a formal complaint.
“So far, they have been helpful and supportive and we all look forward to a resolution of the situation,” he wrote, adding the alleged assault doesn’t change his view of Canada.
“I love Canada,” Qualls tweeted. “I’ve had so much fun here and have many Canadian fans and good friends. I’m not letting one bad night change that.”
Video courtesy tmz.com
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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