WARNING: This story contains a video that shows violence.
Saskatchewan’s police oversight body is investigating an incident on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation where an RCMP officer punched a woman several times in the face.
Loon Lake RCMP arrested three people at a home in the community about 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon on Monday morning.
Two videos show an altercation in the driveway between the two officers and 40-year-old Rose Angus. One officer punches Angus in the face and the other uses a Taser on her while they wrestle her to the ground between two vehicles. One of the officers yells and swears at her while she’s on the ground.
Rose’s mother Mabel Angus, who is from Thunderchild First Nation and lives in Meadow Lake, said an argument between two men at the home started outside the house early Monday morning and neighbours called RCMP.
Mabel said Rose was inside the house and was asked by officers to step outside, before she was arrested.
“They Tased her,” she said.
“It took two men to hit [and arrest] my daughter. My daughter is not that big. She’s about 5-3, 5-4, 210 pounds. These two cops abused their badges and they need to be held accountable to this situation.”
WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. The daughter of Rose Georgina Angus posted a video on social media that shows Loon Lake RCMP arresting her mother at Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, near Meadow Lake, Sask., on July 27. The video was one minute 45 seconds in length. This is a condensed version. The RCMP said in a statement that the use of force by the officers was ‘reasonable.’ Angus has since been charged with assaulting two officers, evading arrest and cocaine possession.
Mabel said when she arrived at the Loon Lake RCMP detachment on Monday, the officers involved did not speak to her. They instead sent out an Indigenous RCMP officer.
“He wouldn’t give me any answers as to why she was arrested, why they threw her down, no answers whatsoever,” said Mabel.
“He just kept telling me it was an ongoing investigation. I wasn’t allowed to see her or talk to her.”
In a statement posted to social media, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation chief and council said it was aware of the videos and noted they “may not capture everything that occurred before the recording began.”
“We understand that many people have found the video upsetting and we recognize the emotions and questions the incidents such as this can create,” the statement said.
“The safety, dignity and respectful treatment of our members will always remain a priority.”
Leadership has since asked for the public to wait for all the facts before drawing conclusions.
The statement said two individuals who were allegedly involved in gang activity were removed from the home and were removed from the community.
RCMP said in a statement that a 30-year-old man from Edmonton with a warrant for charges including theft and a 28-year-old man from Makwa Sahgiahecan with warrants for charges including domestic assault were arrested at the home.
Leadership said there will be a meeting with RCMP of the Loon Lake detachment to discuss the incident and address the community’s concerns.
Makwa Sahgaiehcan Chief Melvin Mooswa did not respond to a request for comment before time of publishing.
RCMP says use of force reasonable
An RCMP statement Monday evening said the incident had been reviewed by the Saskatchewan RCMP District level, including the officers’ body-worn camera footage, and determined the use of force by the officers was reasonable.
RCMP said the body-worn camera footage is evidence and would be presented in court.
The statement said on Monday around 5 a.m., Loon Lake RCMP officers were called to Makwa Sahgaiehcan for a report of a drug-impaired person on a street.
The statement said officers saw an adult man who they say was wanted on warrant enter a home on the same street.
According to RCMP, officers spoke with the home’s occupants at the door and two wanted men were arrested at the door without incident.
The statement said during the arrest, Angus became “confrontational” and punched two police officers.
The statement said she was told to stop moving, but she left the entrance and went down the front steps. She was arrested.
The RCMP statement said the three people arrested were taken to the detachment where Angus was seen by paramedics for “what was described as minor injuries.”
Angus was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, two counts of resisting a police officer, and one count each of obstructing a police officer and possession of cocaine.
She appeared in court in Meadow Lake on Tuesday morning.
Aaron Thomas, a retired police officer who served with the Blood Tribe Police Service for 17 years, said the officer’s use of force and the closed fist strikes to Angus’ face should have never happened and the situation should never should have escalated to the point it did.
“It was disgusting,” said Thomas.
“In my years of policing I never once had to punch a female in the face or had to use that much force to gain compliance and control to handcuff [a suspect]. It went beyond that; that was assaultive behaviour.
“Degrading her after she’s handcuffed and he’s yelling at her to get up. How can she get up when she’s handcuffed and stuck under the truck? … Very degrading and dehumanizing. It’s absolutely sickening.”
SIRT takes over investigation
Mabel said her daughter’s life took a wrong turn and she ended up with the wrong crowd after her sibling was shot and killed in an alleged gang and drugs incident, which is still before the courts.
“She used to advocate for families and anyone in addictions,” said Mabel.
“I’m glad these men were arrested. I’m glad that gangs and drugs are being dealt with but the abuse of a First Nation woman by RCMP is not acceptable.”
The RCMP statement said under Section 25 of the Criminal Code, officers can use force in the lawful execution of their duties, as long as they are acting on reasonable grounds.
The statement said the incident will not be reported to Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) due to the “non-serious nature of the injuries” Rose sustained.
However, in a post on X Tuesday, SIRT said it would be taking over the use of force investigation.
RCMP then issued a statement saying it had asked SIRT to investigate “as part of our commitment to transparency, and considering public interest.” The statement said the officers involved will remain on duty during the investigation.
Mabel said she is seeking legal action against the officers involved, with the help of the Band Members Alliance and Advocacy Association of Canada.
