By Nigel Maxwell

Some residents point at RCMP for riot

Oct 6, 2011 | 6:37 AM

There appears to be two different stories regarding what caused an angry riot in Northern Saskatchewan late last week.

Last Friday morning, members of the La Loche detachment were forced to barricade themselves inside a hospital and an RCMP truck was torched. RCMP said the incident stemmed from an ATV crash.

In an interview with NewsTalk Radio, a woman in the community said she heard it was the RCMP that struck the ATV.

The ATV driver said he collided with a vehicle.

“I was in a party and I ended up going on a quad. Around the corner I got hit by a vehicle and I got knocked out. I woke up in the hospital and there was a riot outside,” said Kelly Janvier.

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“I remember it was coming towards me but I was in my lane. Next thing I know I was in an accident.”

At no time did the RCMP vehicle impact the ATV, said RCMP.

“The driver lost control and the collision occurred in the ditch. At no time did the ATV impact the police vehicle that was parked on the roadway,” said Inspector Jay McInnis.

“RCMP were at that scene on a different call. They were stationary. There was no pursuit.”

McInnis says the RCMP officers engaged the emergency lights in an effort to stop the driver of the ATV, but the driver on the ATV did not stop.

Community members have said it was the belief that Janvier had been killed, as the reason for the violence.

Three people have been arrested and charged in connection with Friday’s incident.

See related: Mob attacks emergency crews in Northern Saskatchewan

Charges laid following Friday's riot in La Loche

nmaxwell@panow.com