Brampton mall officials have promised a full investigation after a “disturbing” video posted online depicting security guards forcefully subduing a suspected shoplifter triggered a wave of public concern.

Bramalea City Centre general manager Andrew Butler said the mall and its security team will be reviewing the Dec. 20 incident.

The video shows three security guards holding a person to the ground outside the mall. One guard appears to deliver several kicks and two more guards rush to help subdue the suspected shoplifter.

“Put your f---ing hands behind your back,” someone yells part way through the video. Later, another security officer can be seen standing beside the struggling group of guards waving passersby along past the scene.

At the end of the video, the scuffle appears to die down as guards lead the shoplifter away in what appear to be handcuffs.

“On its face, we of course find the images disturbing,” said Butler, adding his team is working to respond to feedback from members of the public concerned about video.

“I think people are disturbed by the images in the video, as we are, and they want to make sure that we’re taking action to deal with it,” Butler said.

“We want to make sure that we have safe conditions for our visitors and for the general public.”

Butler couldn’t comment on the use of force in the video or any actions of the security guards, but said the incident was being examined.

“If we feel there’s things that need to be changed in our protocols, we’ll certainly do that,” he said.

Paragon Security, the external firm responsible for mall security, is conducting an internal investigation.

Ted Salter, vice president, regional operations and consulting services at Paragon Security, said a video does not necessarily provide a complete picture of a situation.

“There’s more to it than just that. It requires a lot of investigation and that’s what we’re doing,” said Salter.

Butler said he believed the person on the ground in the video was charged with assault and theft, but Peel Regional Police couldn’t confirm whether charges were laid against the suspected shoplifter or any involved security guards.

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“There would have to be a complaint from the victim” for police to investigate assault, said Const. Thomas Ruttan.

“Our issue here is that no one’s brought anything to our attention” about the security guards’ actions, he said.