London police Const. Ryan Hendrick recalled feeling his life was in danger during a response to a break-and-enter that escalated into a confrontation with a Sarnia tennis player who had him in a tight chokehold.
“I was feeling like, ‘This is it.’ And then I heard a pop,” Hendrick told the inquest looking into Justin Bourassa’s death.
Hendrick’s partner, Const. Joshua Ryan, shot the 29-year-old early on Oct. 28, 2021. Bourassa later passed away at the hospital due to a gunshot wound to the neck.
Ryan testified Wednesday, on the third day of the week-long inquest in London, that he and Hendrick were responding to reports of a break-in near St. George and Mill streets when they saw Bourassa jogging across Richmond Street towards an alley between two businesses.
Both officers stated they believed Bourassa’s dark clothing and “slim build” matched the description they received over dispatch radio. They followed him; Ryan got out of their vehicle while Hendrick attempted to reach dispatch using the police radio but couldn’t get through.
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Police encountered Bourassa when he was walking on Richmond Street, from the sidewalk close to Mill Street towards a small pathway between two businesses on the other side of the road. (Andrew Lupton/CBC)
“The problem was there was a significant amount of chatter on the radio at the time. If someone else is on the air, you can’t be on.”
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Police cordoned off a section of sidewalk on Richmond Street, near Pall Mall Street, in October 2021 while investigating the police shooting death of Bourassa. (Andrew Lupton/CBC)
Hendrick mentioned that he thought about reaching for his firearm with plans to shoot it over his shoulder towards Bourassa but then noticed Ryan’s pants coming into view.
“In the middle of this ruckus, I start to see red stripes. I just hear a light pop and the arm instantly releases. I start coughing. I turn around and see my assailant on the ground,” he said.
“He saved my life.”
Afterwards, Hendrick said both he and Ryan took turns performing chest compressions on Bourassa until paramedics arrived.
“I’ve been waiting four and a half years for this.”This brief statement highlights how long he’s been anticipating sharing his side of things.,,,,,.,. If any recommendations came up about preventing similar incidents after so much time had passed since those events occurred, No further suggestions came forward or offered . ."</blockquote> Counsel representing Bourassa’s family,Meaghan Daniel asked why there were no proposals made towards improvements within law enforcement following such an event being witnessed? Bourasa’s mother,Lorraine Sabourin-Bourasa revealed earlier this week that her son held significance within both Sarnia’s tennis community alongside its Francophone culture where many knew him well both personally/professionally. asher brother/ coach/massage therapist/ avid cyclist along each step throughout life ….(submitted by Lorraine Sabourin-Bourasa)... The five-member jury has spent all week reviewing circumstances surrounding what transpired before arriving back home tonight without providing answers yet nor laying blame down upon anybody involved making sure findings come forth regarding medical causes behind deaths stemming whether natural , accident homicide suicide undetermined possibilities showing right now expected outcome should arrive Monday morning still continuing through Friday morning ahead.
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Things changed quickly
Hendrick explained that he left the vehicle when he noticed Ryan trying to put handcuffs on Bourassa; that’s when everything turned chaotic. Bourassa resisted arrest and attempted to flee, leading all three men to tumble onto the ground. Hendrick found himself face down with Bourassa on top of him as his police radio slipped off his vest. “As I go to reach for it, I feel somebody starting to choke me from behind,” said Hendrick. “The application of this choke was severe from the offset. It’s almost as if someone is trying to pop my head off.” He described how he tried getting free by “tapping out” against Bourassa’s arms and attempting to create space by slipping his fingers between them and his own body. “I started to see flashing. I’m out of breath,” he remembered. “Thoughts of kids and my wife are going through my mind.”‘Don’t kill police,’ officer says
When inquest counsel Phil Tsui asked if Hendrick wanted a moment after recounting everything from that night, Hendrick quickly responded that he’d been waiting for this opportunity.“I’ve been waiting four and a half years for this.”This brief statement highlights how long he’s been anticipating sharing his side of things.,,,,,.,. If any recommendations came up about preventing similar incidents after so much time had passed since those events occurred, No further suggestions came forward or offered . ."</blockquote> Counsel representing Bourassa’s family,Meaghan Daniel asked why there were no proposals made towards improvements within law enforcement following such an event being witnessed? Bourasa’s mother,Lorraine Sabourin-Bourasa revealed earlier this week that her son held significance within both Sarnia’s tennis community alongside its Francophone culture where many knew him well both personally/professionally. asher brother/ coach/massage therapist/ avid cyclist along each step throughout life ….(submitted by Lorraine Sabourin-Bourasa)... The five-member jury has spent all week reviewing circumstances surrounding what transpired before arriving back home tonight without providing answers yet nor laying blame down upon anybody involved making sure findings come forth regarding medical causes behind deaths stemming whether natural , accident homicide suicide undetermined possibilities showing right now expected outcome should arrive Monday morning still continuing through Friday morning ahead.
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