Mounties apologize for kicking man's face

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KELOWNA, British Columbia, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A British Columbia man has received a personal and formal apology for being kicked in the face by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer last month.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Peter Hourihan visited the home of Buddy Tavares in Kelowna Monday with the apology, the QMI Agency reported. Hourihan spent 45 minutes with Tavares, but there was no offer of compensation, his family said.

A reporter's phone video of Tavares' arrest Jan. 7 showed Constable Geoff Mantler kicking the 51-year-old man as he knelt on all fours as ordered, Postmedia News reported.

The officer was suspended with pay and Crown prosecutors are considering charging him with assault causing bodily harm, the reports said.

The Mounties are also conducting their own internal investigation, Hourihan said.

Tavares was arrested at a golf course where he used to work as a groundskeeper. Part of his duties included shooting blanks from a shotgun to keep geese away.

A shotgun was seized at the time of his arrest, but a weapons charge against Tavares was dropped Monday, QMI said.