DTES health-care workers handcuffed by police while taking client to appointment

Iris Yong was sitting in a meeting room when her colleague became distracted by something outside. Yong looked out the window at 312 Main St., and recognized two health-care workers she knew in handcuffs.

Iris Yong was sitting in a meeting room when her colleague became distracted by something outside. Yong looked out the window at 312 Main St., and recognized two health-care workers she knew in handcuffs.

“They had about four or five cop cars pulled over, blocking the street and cops all over the place," Yong said.

One of the individuals handcuffed was Laura MacDonald, an outreach worker in the Downtown Eastside. On Nov. 16, around 2 p.m., MacDonald and a colleague who both work for Vancouver Coastal Health, had picked up a client in a car-share and were bringing them to a health care appointment.

As they turned onto Cordova St., MacDonald said a police car pulled in front of them, cutting them off. According to a police report obtained by CTV News, an officer drew a firearm while approaching the vehicle.

MacDonald said an officer told everyone to get out of the car, searched each person and then placed them in handcuffs.

“I don’t seem to be able to talk about it without getting emotional,” MacDonald said. “I felt very unsafe in that moment.”

In a statement to CTV News, Vancouver Coastal Health said it was aware of the incident and that it was working with the Vancouver Police Department to look further into the incident.