The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team has released more information into its investigation into how a 45-year-old man was injured while being arrested by Battlefords RCMP recently.
SIRT investigators now say that during the arrest a woman who was in the vehicle identified him has having a disability.
According to SIRT, the incident happened Tuesday, Oct. 6, during a traffic stop on the Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation. Battlefords RCMP officers activated their emergency equipment at about 12:27 p.m. to stop a vehicle, which then pulled into the driveway of a residence.
SIRT said two passengers, a man and a woman, got out of the vehicle and were told by police to remain inside. The driver, a man, identified himself as a suspended driver with outstanding warrants and was arrested without incident.
At about 12:29 p.m., while speaking with police, the female passenger identified the male passenger as a person with a disability. Four minutes later, SIRT said a confrontation occurred between police and the rear-seat passenger. Police told the 45-year-old man he was under arrest, removed him from the back seat and placed him in handcuffs.
During the arrest, the man sustained a serious injury but no further details about the injury have been released.
A six-person SIRT team has been assigned to investigate the actions of police during the incident. A community liaison will also be appointed under The Police Act, 1990.
The RCMP will remain responsible for any investigation into the actions of the vehicle’s occupants. SIRT said no further information will be released at this time, and a final report will be made public within 90 days of the investigation concluding.
SIRT investigates incidents involving serious injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence that may have arisen from the actions or omissions of on- or off-duty police officers, or while a person is in police custody.
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