Canada

Sask. police watchdog formally investigating RCMP arrest posted to social media

By
David Prisciak

Published: 

A video shared to social media showing the arrest of a woman on a Sask. First Nation has some saying RCMP officers used excessive force.

Saskatchewan’s police watchdog is investigating a violent arrest by RCMP officers that was captured and posted to social media earlier this week.

The Ministry of Justice formally announced the investigation by the province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) Thursday morning.

On Monday, July 27, at around 5:14 a.m., members of Loon Lake RCMP visited a home on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation to arrest a man on an outstanding warrant.

At around 5:32 a.m., after “prolonged discussions” with several people inside the home, a man exited and was arrested on the home’s front step.

A minute later, a second man exited the home and was also taken into custody on outstanding warrants.

During the second arrest at 5:33 a.m., according to the ministry, an altercation took place between two RCMP officers and a 40-year-old woman on the house’s front step.

The woman, identified as Rose Georgina Angus, then reportedly left the home’s porch area and at 5:34 a.m., a second altercation took place between two vehicles parked outside the home.

Saskatchewan RCMP arrest A video showing the July 27 arrest of Rose Georgina Angus on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation was posted to social media. (Source: Teyonah Angus)

It was the second altercation that was captured by Angus’s daughter and posted to social media. The video shows two officers forcing Angus to the ground, and the 40-year-old is then seen with blood running down her face as the two officers take her away.

In its news release, the ministry confirmed that both physical force and a conducted energy weapon, or Taser, were used during the arrest.

Saskatchewan RCMP have previously stated that Angus was confrontational and punched two officers during the confrontations.

Angus is facing four criminal charges in relation to the situation, including possession of cocaine and assaulting a police officer.

A SIRT team consisting of four investigators has been deployed to Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation. A community liaison will also be appointed.

SIRT’s role is to investigate alleged cases of injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence stemming from the actions of both on and off-duty police officers or while the affected individual is in police custody.

With files from Hallee Mandryk