At a public inquiry on Tuesday, witnesses recounted their encounters with Myles Gray leading up to his tragic death in August 2015. The inquiry is investigating allegations against seven Vancouver Police Department constables – Kory Folkestad, Eric Birzneck, Derek Cain, Josh Wong, Beau Spencer, Hardeep Sahota, and Nick Thompson – regarding the potential misuse of force in Gray’s demise. The officers have all refuted these accusations.
Gray succumbed to injuries sustained during a confrontation with the police, which resulted in ruptured testicles, a broken voice box, a fractured eye socket, and extensive bruising. Testimonies from individuals who observed Gray before he entered a yard in Burnaby near the Vancouver border were heard on Tuesday.
One witness, Andreah Pilgrim, a Burnaby insurance company employee, described seeing Gray exhibiting erratic behavior near a bus stop. She observed him pacing, muttering, and engaging in unusual actions like looking under bushes and raising his fists. Pilgrim noticed Gray had removed his shirts and was carrying them.
During cross-examination, Pilgrim expressed her concern for her safety and that of her colleagues due to Gray’s behavior. She mentioned seeing Gray displaying a determined demeanor and leaning against a business parking lot gate, which she found unsettling.
Another witness, Muhammed Reza, recalled encountering Gray on the day of his death when Gray sprayed Reza’s mother with a hose and made inappropriate remarks. Reza perceived Gray’s actions as potentially influenced by intoxication or a mental breakdown, prompting him to call 911. Reza followed Gray from a distance as he walked erratically, at times endangering himself on the road.
Reza witnessed a VPD officer, believed to be Const. Hardeep Sahota, engaging with Gray, who became aggressive during the interaction. The situation escalated, leading to the arrival of two plainclothes male officers. Gray proceeded up a hill into a backyard, where subsequent distressing screams were heard. Reza suspected Gray was being Tasered, although the specifics of the incident remained unclear to him.
The inquiry continued with testimonies from Gray’s loved ones expressing concerns about the focus on Gray’s character rather than police conduct. The hearing is scheduled to last for ten weeks, with proceedings resuming on Wednesday.