Claudio Cugliari was barely over the scare of a deafening explosion not far from his Mississauga home when he says he was confronted with another fear Tuesday afternoon: a Peel Regional Police officer using physical force to try to get him to evacuate the devastating scene on Hickory Drive.

“I was afraid for myself,” the freelance photographer, who takes pictures for The News and other media outlets, said in an interview. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I was doing my job. I didn’t try to get in his face or go into any of the houses.”

WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

The incident was captured on camera and posted to YouTube by Zeljko Zidaric. Peel Regional Police Sgt. Josh Colley confirmed the force is investigating the officer’s actions. He has been identified by The News as Const. Tom Rodziewicz.

“Peel Regional Police were unaware that this incident had occurred at the scene of the Hickory Drive explosion (until The News brought it to their attention),” he said. “Peel Regional Police treat every allegation of misconduct seriously and will be conducting a full investigation into the conduct of our officer and his interaction with the photographer.”

Cugliari was in his garage when he heard the loud blast on Hickory Drive around 4:30 p.m. and went to the scene with his camera and began snapping pictures.

The video shows the officer telling Cugliari to leave the scene and when Cugliari says he is staying put and tries to take the officer’s picture — which he claims was an effort to get his badge number — the officer appears to try to grab the camera, knocking Cugliari’s glasses from his forehead in the process. Cugliari was backing away when the physical interaction occurred.

Cugliari then uses vulgar language addressed to the officer and the officer appears to respond with vulgar language before shoving the photographer as he is backing away.

Prior to the confrontation with Cugliari, Rodziewicz was photographed carrying a woman out of one of the homes affected by the explosion.

Jessica A’gastino, who described herself on YouTube as the woman’s niece, said the officer should be commended for his response to the explosion.

“This officer actually carried out my aunt from her home. She was in extreme shock. His job is to keep people safe and move (them away) from such a disturbing scene,” she wrote.

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Zidaric, who shot the video, said he was compelled to start recording because he was flabbergasted by the officer’s conduct.

“He (Cugliari) was just over there trying to do his job about 50 feet away from the house,” he said.

Louie Rosella is a reporter with The Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. He can be reached at lrosella@metroland.com .

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