RCMP Watch

Terrence Yellowback will never be confused as a person who accepts responsibility for his actions.

The Manto Sipi Cree Nation man said this week he didn’t deserve to be shot, then zapped with a Taser by a Mountie on April 5. Yellowback said the entire incident wouldn’t have happened “if police gave me a few minutes to cool down.”

Before we start treating Yellowback as a victim of police brutality, though, it must be noted some distinct gaps in his story were uncovered during that same presser.

Yellowback conceded Mounties had been looking for him in relation to an assault complaint, he had been drinking prior to the incident, and — most importantly — he refused to drop a table leg he was holding when he crossed paths with the female officer.

The shooting very likely wouldn’t have occurred had he just co-operated and put down the table leg in the first place, but that point is apparently lost on Yellowhead, who has been subsequently charged with a number of offences.

His big point was the officer shouldn’t have shot him first, then taken the Taser to him. We await RCMP-mandated reports into the shooting to provide clarity on this. On the surface, though, it’s difficult to fault a police officer who felt physically threatened by Yellowback for doing whatever she felt was necessary.

It should be noted Yellowback suffered a minor gunshot wound to the body, for which he was treated and released from hospital. That space between his ears — the spot that blames others for situations he created — was unaffected by the shooting, despite evidence to the contrary.