Viral video calls into question actions of Sask. RCMP officer

Warning: This story contains the use of profane language.

Editors note: This story was updated Wednesday afternoon at 5p.m. to reflect a statement from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief and Council.

A viral video, depicting the words and actions of an RCMP officer in northern Saskatchewan, has been shared over 1,000 times on Facebook.

The video, which in its entirety is just over a minute long, was recorded from inside a residence at Stanley Mission on Aug. 25. After a resident explains through a window that he is not “doing anything”, an RCMP officer can be seen pounding on the door with his fist.

“Open the door now,” the officer shouts.

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“Should I open the door?” a man inside the residence then asks another man. The second man promptly answers “no.”

“The f$%^ing clinic is here to check on you…open the door or I’m coming back with a sledge hammer,” the RCMP officer can then be heard saying.

After trying the locked door one more time, the officer walks away. One of the residents then proceeds to open the door and lets the officer in, as well as two other individuals, who were identified as health clinic staff. The officer can be seen carrying an axe in his left hand.

“Did you think I was kidding…the clinic is here to check on you,” the officer can be heard saying in a much calmer voice.

“Yeah I know I was waiting for the clinic. I’d open the door for the clinic…not for you….f&^*ing try to bust my window,” a man inside the residence replied.

While it’s not immediately clear who does it, someone then places their hand over the phone and takes the phone away.

Jonas Hardlotte was the man filming the incident and told the Canadian Press he was experiencing depression and was speaking to his mother-in-law, who called the local clinic to check on him.

Hardlotte explained the officer who arrived acted rudely and he felt intimidated, so no one inside opened the door and instead used his phone to start recording.

“I thought I did something wrong,” he said of the officer’s behaviour. “I told him, ‘I’ll wait for the clinic … You obviously see I’m good. You checked up on me.’

”The Saskatchewan RCMP have provided a statement to paNOW about the incident, explaining at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 25, Stanley Mission RCMP received a request for assistance from the local health clinic.

“The health clinic advised they had received a 911 call with a report of an adult male who had injured himself and was bleeding,” the statement read.

The statement then goes on to explain that an RCMP officer and two nurses from the health clinic attended the residence. Upon arrival the officer looked through the window and could see the victim.

“Attempts were made to gain entry as the residents refused to open the door. These attempts included loud banging on the window; yelling, including the use of profanity; and implied to the residents that the door would be forcefully opened if the officer and medical staff could not enter to ensure the safety of those inside the residence,” the statement read.

A health care worker appears to issue a warning to the person recording, prior to the phone being taken away. (Facebook)

After verifying the people inside the residence were safe, the RCMP officer and medical staff then left the residence. The RCMP said they were made aware later that day of the video posted to social media.

“We have since been in contact with local leadership and other stakeholders to let them know we are aware of the incident and the concerns being expressed on social media. This includes the RCMP officer taking the cell phone away from the injured male and stopping the recording,” the statement read.

RCMP also explained local leadership and stakeholders were advised the Saskatchewan RCMP will review the incident in its entirety, and said information will continue to be shared with local leadership as it becomes available.

“Transparency and accountability are critical in our role as the provincial police service. The Saskatchewan RCMP extends sincere appreciation to the members of the public for bringing this video to our attention,” the statement said.

The officer involved in the video has been re-assigned.

Response from Lac La Ronge Indian Band

The northern community of Stanley Mission is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB).

According to a statement Wednesday afternoon, the LLRIB Chief and Council are calling for the removal of the RCMP member.

“We are very disappointed by this officer’s response to a health and wellness check on one of members from Stanley Mission. The RCMP’s response was frightening and inappropriate, especially toward a member of our community believed to be in duress. We had a meeting with senior RMCP officers to address the the concerns raised by community members and on social media with regard to the video released.,” Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said in the statement.

“We are satisfied with the RCMP’s plan to order an investigation. In the meantime, the officer will be reassigned effective immediately, and an RCMP supervisor will be assigned in the interim until a new officer arrives in mid-September. Into the near future, we will continue to meet with the RCMP on how they will better respond to these types of situations.”

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

— with files from the Canadian Press