Margie Gray, the mother of Myles Gray, a 33-year-old man who passed away following an altercation with Vancouver Police Department (VPD) members, provided her testimony during a public hearing on Monday. Initially shocked by the news of her son’s death, Margie Gray described how she broke down in intense grief shortly after learning about the tragic incident.
During the hearing, all seven VPD officers refuted the accusations of using excessive force that led to Gray’s demise. The incident occurred on August 13, 2015, in a wooded backyard in Burnaby where Gray was confronted by the police after an initial report of him using a garden hose. His injuries included severe physical trauma such as ruptured testicles, a fractured voice box, a broken eye socket, and extensive bruising.
The extensive hearing aims to investigate whether VPD constables Kory Folkestad, Eric Birzneck, Derek Cain, Josh Wong, Beau Spencer, Hardeep Sahota, and Nick Thompson abused their authority during the encounter with Gray. Margie Gray described her son as an individual passionate about activities like mountain biking, weightlifting, fishing, and hockey, who also managed deliveries for his floral evergreen company.
Recounting the day of the incident, Margie Gray detailed how she received a call from one of her son’s employees reporting his disappearance, leading her to find his van abandoned at a florist supply shop in Burnaby. During a distressing 911 call, she expressed concern about her son’s unusual behavior, mentioning his bipolar diagnosis and past episodes of erratic behavior.
The family and friends of Myles Gray expressed their frustration outside the hearing, feeling that the focus seemed to be on scrutinizing Gray rather than the police officers involved. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, there is skepticism among Gray’s loved ones about the potential outcomes of the hearing following past investigations that did not result in charges or disciplinary actions against the officers.
The hearing is anticipated to feature over 30 witnesses over a 10-week period, including law enforcement personnel, union representatives, medical professionals, and use-of-force experts. The officers under scrutiny are not obligated to testify during the proceedings, which are set to continue on Tuesday.