A man was forcefully restrained and arrested by eight police officers at his residence in Edinburgh. The individual, Gabriels Ochnolichs, lodged a complaint against Police Scotland alleging that he sustained bruises during a mental health check while taking out his bins.
According to Gabriels, his social worker had alerted the police about his well-being, prompting officers to visit his home in Muirhouse. However, the situation escalated, and the 21-year-old claimed that the officers acted aggressively towards him.
Video footage captured by his mother shows an officer grabbing Gabriels by the neck, throwing him to the ground, and placing him in handcuffs. Subsequent footage reveals multiple officers restraining him on the ground with leg restraints in place. Gabriels has since filed a formal complaint with Police Scotland regarding his treatment during the incident, which occurred on January 8 at 4:20 pm.
Speaking to EdinburghLive, Gabriels recounted the events, stating that he was detained under mental health powers due to a misunderstanding. He described how the police approached him without explanation, forcibly restrained him, and applied pressure to his neck, causing distress and difficulty breathing.
Despite his family witnessing the incident, Gabriels claimed that the officers did not inform him that it was a welfare check. He expressed concern over the excessive use of force by the police and criticized their handling of the situation.
After being escorted to a police van, Gabriels alleged that the restraints were removed, and he questioned the officers about their conduct. He voiced frustration over the impact the incident had on his reputation within his community, emphasizing that a more respectful approach could have prevented the escalation.
In response to the complaint, a spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed that it had been received by the Professional Standards Department and was currently being assessed.