LOON LAKE — The Saskatchewan RCMP has reversed its initial decision and has formally asked the province’s police watchdog, the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), to investigate an arrest on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation that was captured on video and went viral online.
The force had initially deemed the use of force against 40-year-old of Rose Georgina Angus to be reasonable, but changed its position on Tuesday.
“As part of our commitment to transparency, and considering public interest, Saskatchewan RCMP has asked the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) to perform an external independent investigation of the incident,” said the RCMP in a statement late Tuesday.
SIRT has accepted this request, said the RCMP.
RCMP say the officers involved in this incident will remain on duty during the investigation.
RCMP had issued a media release late Monday after footage showing part of the encounter circulated on Facebook, posted by a woman identified as Angus's daughter. The video showed Angus with visible blood on her face after an officer was seen punching her repeatedly in the face during the arrest.
According to RCMP, the incident occurred early in the morning on July 27 when Loon Lake RCMP responded to a report of a drug-impaired person on a street within the First Nation. While en route to that call at approximately 5 a.m., officers observed a wanted man entering a home on the same street.
Police approached the house and spoke with the occupants at the door. Two wanted men were arrested without incident. But during the process, police allege that Angus became confrontational and punched two officers. When directed to stop moving, she reportedly left the entrance area and went down the stairs, where she was arrested outside.
Angus was taken to the detachment where she was treated for what RCMP described as minor injuries. She was held in custody overnight and appeared in Meadow Lake Provincial Court on July 28, where she was released.
