A video from the scene shows Phillip Petrik being arrested by an RCMP officer on July 11, 2021.

Image Credit: YOUTUBE/Book End Kid Productions

A Clearwater man is suing a local RCMP officer and a host of government entities for damages following what he claims was unnecessary use of force.

Phillip Petrik claims he was trying to help firefighters near Wells Gray Provincial Park with a wildfire by bringing water in his truck, but was intercepted by a local RCMP officer, according to a claim in B.C. Supreme Court.

Petrik, with his son, were bringing 420 litres of water to the fire scene at the request of wildfire personnel at the scene on July 11, 2021, they claim.

However, they were stopped by Const. Cody Lockwood of the Clearwater detachment — before they could drop off the water.

Lockwood said Petrik and his son were "causing problems" and were not wanted at the scene, according to the claim.

Petrik and his son then drove from the fire, back toward Clearwater, but were stopped again by Lockwood before making it back to the community.

That's when the pair were arrested.

Petrick claims that the dust from a gravel road made it difficult to see the lights from the police vehicle.

The arrest was captured in a video Petrik's son posted online. What came before the arrest isn't clear from the video.

What it does show is Petrik and his son, who is recording the video, arguing with the RCMP officer.

The officer, meanwhile, repeatedly demands the pair stop fighting him off and "get into the car."

The officer eventually threatens Petrik with pepper spray in order to convince him to get into the police cruiser, after he's already in handcuffs.

The heated exchange lasts for less than two minutes until Petrik's son is subdued.

Petrik wasn't criminally charged, but he did receive four traffic tickets that day, including one for failing to stop for police.

He's claiming the officer used excessive force in the arrest and is seeking millions in compensation, according to a civil court file on Aug. 9, 2022.

Along with the RCMP officer, he names the District of Clearwater, Thompson Nicola Regional District, Clearwater mayor Merlin Blackwell, Attorney General of Canada, B.C. Wildfire Service and ICBC among the defendants.

Petrik has no lawyer named in the claim to represent him.

He's seeking more than $6 million in compensation, with most related to what he claims is excessive force. He claims government agencies should have known there was a "problem with the behaviour" of the RCMP officer. Another $1 million of that should come from the province and the wildfire service as it should have been aware Petrik and his son are "certified wildfire fighters."

None of his claims have been proven in court and none of the named defendants have responded to his claim.

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