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Mona Wang hopes that by telling her story, others don't have to go through what she did.
Wang is the UBCO psychiatric nursing student who was left bruised and scraped after being dragged out of her apartment face down in January.
The rough arrest came after a call for help. Much of the incident was recorded on surveillance video, and the incident is now the subject of a civil claim against Cst. Lacey Browning of the Kelowna RCMP.
The shocking video has sparked a lot of conversation about the role of the police in these kinds of situations.
"My face was completely swollen, I had bruises to both of my eyes, my skin on my nose was scraped off and my eyes were bloodshot from the burst blood vessels, I had bruises all over my arms, my chest and my hips," said Wang in an interview with CTV Vancouver, "and on top of that, just the mental injury."
Cst. Browning disputes Wang's claims in the civil case. Her response in court filings argues only necessary force was used to subdue the student when she became violent.
UBCO Students Union President Ali Poostizadeh, was shocked when he saw the video. And he is demanding change on behalf of all students at his school.
"We're looking at setting up meetings with the Police Chief, the MLA's, the MP's, municipal government and also the University," he said, "to try to make sure nothing like this happens."
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran had a similar reaction to the video and he said expects better from the RCMP.
"If that was a loved one of mine being treated that way when they needed help, and were probably expecting help and instead got that treatment? It makes me really sad."
He said he's taken a direct interest in how the case is handled.
"I just find that very sad," he said. "We have asked for an investigation that is done quickly and transparently and the results of that investigation made public so we know the outcome."
"Seeing that was shocking," said Shelagh Turner at the Kelowna Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
"For sure the RCMP need more training in mental health and substance use," she said, "they need to be equipped."
Ironically, Wang is currently working in a neuropsychiatric unit, so she has seen people in crisis from the other side.
"We deal with combative patients every day, people who are verbally abusive, who are physically abusive and yet you never see us with our boots on their head."
Browning has been restricted to administrative duties over the incident while internal and criminal investigations are underway against her.
It's important to note that neither the civil claim launched by Wang nor any criminal allegation has been proven in court.
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