William Shatner condemns police who drew guns on Star Wars cosplayer

Star Trek actor said incident ‘cannot be covered up’

William Shatner at 'Comic Con Africa' in 2019 (AFP via Getty Images)

William Shatner has criticised Canadian police for drawing their guns on a cosplayer dressed as a Stormtrooper from Star Wars.

The incident made headlines around the world after a video of officers tackling the woman, who was carrying a toy blaster, went viral.

In the footage police can be seen drawing guns on the woman before she is taken to the ground and her nose is bloodied.

The Alberta woman was dressed up as a Stormtrooper to celebrate Star Wars Day (4 May).

On Wednesday (6 May), Shatner – a Canadian actor who became a cultural icon for his portrayal of Captain James T Kirk in the Star Trek franchise – shared his “contempt” at the local police force.

He wrote: "Captain's Log Stardate 49: Sending my contempt this morning to the @lethpolice of Alberta, Canada & @LPSChief1. Rifles drawn for a plastic toy Cosplayer? Didn't comply right away? Are you blind Chief? Watch the video to see how quickly she complied. This cannot be covered up.”

After a Twitter user said the woman should not have been carrying the toy blaster, Shatner replied: “Oh please! Did you see the gun? Also when she's on her knees and the officer has his rifle ready to shoot; he is a mere few feet from the gun. If he couldn't see it was a toy he should retire, yet they continued and slammed her to the ground and bloodied her nose."

The Lethbridge Police Service in Alberta said they had been responding to two 911 calls about a person with a weapon outside the Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina, a Star Wars-themed restaurant.

The incident occurred in the wake of the deadliest shooting in Canada’s history: in April, a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 22 people.