Commission launches complaint and investigation into the conduct of Kinngait RCMP members involved in an incident where a man was struck by a moving RCMP vehicle and assaulted in cells by another detainee

Michelaine Lahaie, Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for RCMP (CRCC), has initiated a complaint into the conduct of RCMP members involved in an incident in Kinngait (formerly known as Cape Dorset), Nunavut, on the evening of June 1, 2020.

A video circulated by numerous media outlets shows an RCMP vehicle driving towards a man as the driver's side door opens, hitting the man and knocking him down. The driver, an RCMP member, and several other members then use force to arrest the man.

In accordance with Part VII.1 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, "V" Division RCMP appointed the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) to investigate and determine whether criminal charges should be laid. In addition, an RCMP internal Code of Conduct investigation into the actions of the officer is underway.

"I am concerned with the conduct of RCMP members involved in this serious incident and will monitor both the OPS investigation and the RCMP's Code of Conduct investigation. The CRCC's investigation will provide an added level of scrutiny to the incident, as it will additionally examine the circumstances that led to the man being placed in a cell at the RCMP detachment where another detainee assaulted him and he needed to be airlifted to Iqaluit for treatment. I am aware that there is historical distrust by Inuit toward the police and I am committed to increasing RCMP accountability," said Michelaine Lahaie.

The Commission's role is to examine the conduct of RCMP members in the execution of their duties against applicable training, policies, procedures, guidelines and statutory requirements and, where applicable, make remedial recommendations.

The terms of reference are available here.

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More Information

For more information, please contact Media@crcc-ccetp.gc.ca.
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