The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating an alleged assault involving a member of the Wood Buffalo RCMP and a regional Chief.
Allan Adam, Chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, spoke with reporters on Saturday where he noted he was beaten in downtown Fort McMurray for driving with an expired license plate.
He claims that on March 10, he, his wife Freda, and niece were leaving the Peter Pond Mall parking lot when they were pulled over. Adam states he was assaulted and arrested after voicing his displeasure over the way they were treating his wife.
“What happened to me is not unusual or shocking. This happens every day to black, brown, low income and indigenous people across Canada.”
The RCMP released a statement of their own claiming there was a confrontation which led to them arresting Adam. They note they had to use force after he continued to resist the officers.
The Mounties say they have reviewed footage captured through the in-car video system and have determined the officers actions were reasonable and did not meet the threshold for an external investigation.
However, the RCMP and the Director of Law Enforcement with the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General’s office in Alberta have decided that ASIRT will review the matter.
“Canadians deserve to know what their tax dollars are paying for,” added Adam, who called for an investigation into the situation.
Meanwhile, Adam is scheduled to appear in court on July 2, 2020 after he was charged with assaulting an officer and resisting arrest.
