Hamilton police officer charged with assault following investigation into interaction that ‘traumatized’ resident

A Hamilton police officer has been charged with assault following an investigation into a video that appears to show him lunging at a woman.

In a press release Thursday, police say Const. Ian Milburn has been charged with assault level one" in connection to an incident in mid-February.

Police said around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, two officers were called to a landlord and tenant dispute at a home in the area of King Street East and Sherman Avenue.

A camera just outside of the apartment door captured the interaction between the officers and tenant.

In the video, which was shared widely on Twitter, the officers and the resident have a heated exchange through a closed door.

The video starts with two officers knocking on the door of an apartment. One of the officers, now identified as Milburn, appears to notice a camera above the door, looks directly into it and points it out to the other officer.

The resident opens the door a crack and says it's not really a good moment for me to come out right now." She takes the lead in the conversation, telling the officers she knows they are there for a complaint from a neighbour.

She tells the officers to look at their file, where they would see complaints from the past, allegedly from the superintendent of the building.

As Milburn is speaking to the resident about the property damage complaint, she interjects multiple times and asks him not to speak to me like that" while insisting there has not been any property damage.

Milburn, with his face pushed into the door crack, raises his voice, asks if he can finish my sentence." Eventually, he speaks over the resident, saying she is unreasonable" and won't listen.

Milburn finally shouts: If you damage his property, you are going to be arrested. So do not damage anything. Is that clear?"

As the officers turn and leave, the resident opens the door and says: Enjoy your bullying of a position."

Milburn then makes a swift lunge back toward the door as it is slammed shut. The officers can be heard chuckling as they then walk out of frame.

In an previous interview with The Spectator, the resident whom police were speaking with during the incident said the exchange left her traumatized." The Spectator agreed not to name her because, as a trans and disabled person, she fears for her safety.

After the video made the rounds on social media, both Hamilton police and Mayor Fred Eisenberger called it concerning.

A recent video showing a tense interaction between a resident and two Hamilton Police Service officers is concerning," the mayor said in an emailed statement at the time.

In their own statement at the time, police also called the video concerning and said the video was sent to their professional standards branch, which investigates breaches in professional conduct by police.

Milburn will appear in court on July 13, according to police. He's been placed on administrative duties and will have no contact with the public."

More to come ...

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com