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This is Dale Culver. The 35-year-old died after being pepper sprayed at taken into custody by police in Prince George in July 2017. He complained of shortness of breath, was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. (1/?)
Six months later, in January 2018, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association said they spoke to witnesses who had filmed Culver's arrest. They allege that RCMP members told onlookers to delete the video footage. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/civil-liberties-iio-pg-rcmp-1.4489925
. @mckinnondeLEON and I spoke to family members at this time. They described Culver as a "happy go lucky" father of three who was in Prince George for training.
According to police, they were responding to reports of a man "casing vehicles" in a parking lot when he was arrested
According to police, they were responding to reports of a man "casing vehicles" in a parking lot when he was arrested
Culver was a member of the WEt'suwet'en and Gitxsan First Nations. His cousin said she saw video footage of his arrest, which she described as "horrific".
In July 2019 — two years after Culver died-— B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office asked Crown to consider charges against four RCMP officers in this incident (that's the extent of what they can do - ask Crown to consider charges). https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dale-culver-arrest-prince-george-officer-charges-1.5213697
The IIO asks for consideration of charges when their investigation concludes there is the potential for wrongdoing on the part of the police. In this case that's both in relation to the death and in relation to the allegations of witnesses being told to delete cellphone footage
Today- nearly three years after Culver's death- the IIO has updated its file.
It's asking for consideration of charges against two officers in relation to use of force, and three officers in relation to obstruction of justice. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-police-watchdog-charges-prince-george-death-custody-1.5590994
It's asking for consideration of charges against two officers in relation to use of force, and three officers in relation to obstruction of justice. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-police-watchdog-charges-prince-george-death-custody-1.5590994
So five mounties potentially facing charges in relation to the death of an Indigenous man in Prince George and allegations that police told witnesses to delete footage of his arrest. The B.C. Prosecution Service will now review the IIO report. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-police-watchdog-charges-prince-george-death-custody-1.5590994 /thread
(with files from @evacsenge)
And here's a new thread, with another story in the news this week.
In 2014, a photo came out of an RCMP officer on top of a 61-year-old Wet'suwet'en elder in Smithers, west of Prince George.
Here it is.
In 2014, a photo came out of an RCMP officer on top of a 61-year-old Wet'suwet'en elder in Smithers, west of Prince George.
Here it is.
Irene Joseph filed a formal complaint against police, and shared photos of her injuries. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/irene-joseph-s-takedown-by-smithers-rcmp-captured-in-photo-1.2872497
RCMP at the time said they were responding to a shoplifting complaint. "Police detained an individual who did not comply with verbal direction," they said in a statement. "The police officer restrained the person when they resisted and called for a second officer."
In a ruling this week, a judge found that Irene Joseph was falsely arrested, falsely imprisoned, assaulted, and battered" and there was no reason for her to have been taken down by the police. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elder-walker-false-arrest-judgement-1.5583873
"It was simply not necessary to physically subdue a woman of Ms Joseph's age and limited mobility.... She was arrested and restrained in a very public manner and was humiliated," the judge wrote. Joseph was awarded $55,000 in damages. The judge noted Joseph used a walker.
Anyways, the number of Indigenous people in prison in Canada has reached record highs.
- 30 per cent of the federal inmate population is Indigenous
- 5 per cent of the Canadian population is Indigenous https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-overrepresentation-prison-oci-statement-1.5434712
- 30 per cent of the federal inmate population is Indigenous
- 5 per cent of the Canadian population is Indigenous https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-overrepresentation-prison-oci-statement-1.5434712
