Julie Horbal (Sun Media) – Members of the Manto Sipi Cree Nation are taking aim at RCMP for what they call a series of protocol breaches surrounding a Mountie shooting a band member earlier this month.
Chief Roger Ross claims officers ignored policies during and after the shooting which were set out by a memorandum of understanding signed last June by RCMP and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) leaders. In doing so, Mounties damaged an already fragile bond between the reserve and police, said Ross.
“The primary purpose of the order was to ensure proper communications and strengthen relations,” the chief said. “The relationship has deteriorated.”
On April 5, a female RCMP officer shot, then used a Taser on Terrence Yellowback, 27, after the man refused to drop a table leg while the officer investigated an assault complaint against him.
At a media conference held yesterday morning, Yellowback confirmed he had been drinking prior to his run-in with Mounties and refused to drop the weapon when the officer stopped him on a snowmobile trail.
He questioned why the officer would “shoot first and Taser second,” but both he and Ross said what happened next — or what didn’t happen — is what prompted them to demand an independent review into the incident.
“(RCMP) didn’t give me any communication,” said Yellowback, who claims to have repeatedly asked to see his family and speak with band officials while being treated — under police guard — at the community nursing station, then hospital in Thompson.
According to the agreement, RCMP are obligated to notify community leaders of any incidents on band land within a reasonable time frame. But Ross said he didn’t officially hear about the shooting until more than 24 hours after it happened.
RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish said communicating with band officials — especially during an intense situation — is not the responsibility of the force’s rank and file. Management arrived at the remote reserve as soon as logistically possible and met with Ross and his council, she said.
As for Yellowback not being allowed to see his family, Karpish said he wasn’t treated any differently than any other suspect would be, as he remained in police custody through the duration of his medical treatment. He has since been charged with numerous assault and weapons-related offences.
Karpish said RCMP brass has recommended an independent agency conduct the review and added talks between band officials and the force are “ongoing.”
Mr. Yellowback wonders why the officer would shoot first and Taser second. Would Mr. Yellowback have wanted her to shoot first and then shoot second as well.
As to the chief saying relationships have deteriorated. Maybe if he were more concerned with the fact that members of his band were breaking the law and exhibiting behaviours that would cause the RCMP too shoot them, instead of taking the side of the criminal he would set a proper example for the rest on the band.
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