A response to a report of a drug-impaired individual led to the arrest of two wanted men and a female who allegedly assaulted two police officers on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation early Monday morning.
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Loon Lake RCMP officers responded to the initial call on a street in the community at about 5 a.m. on July 27.
While responding to the area, officers spotted an adult man wanted on an outstanding warrant entering a nearby residence. Police approached the home and spoke with the occupants at the door, where two wanted men were taken into custody without incident.
During the arrests, a 40-year-old woman became confrontational and punched two officers. After ignoring commands to stop, she left the entrance area, went downstairs and was subsequently arrested outside the residence.
All three individuals were transported to the detachment, where the woman was assessed by EMS for minor injuries.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested 30-year-old Lane Anthony Purves of Edmonton, Alta., who was wanted on warrants from Swift Current RCMP for charges including theft, and 28-year-old Rayden Joe Kytwayhat of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, who was wanted on warrants from Loon Lake RCMP for charges including domestic assault.
Rose Georgina Angus, 40, of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, faces multiple charges, including two counts of assaulting a police officer, two counts of resisting a police officer, one count of obstructing a police officer and one count of possession of cocaine.
Angus is scheduled to appear in Meadow Lake Provincial Court on July 28 at 10 a.m.
Addressing videos of part of the incident circulating online, Saskatchewan RCMP noted that police intervention is inherently dynamic and complex.
Following an initial district-level review that included examining body-worn camera footage, RCMP determined the force used by officers was reasonable under Section 25 of the Criminal Code.
Because the woman’s injuries were minor, the matter was not reported to the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), in accordance with Saskatchewan RCMP policy. Body-worn camera footage will be presented as evidence during court proceedings.
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I reviewed the arrest videos. Missing the ‘before’ part – although this article puts it into context. Arresting officers were clearly riled up, aggressive, and unacceptable language was used. Upsetting to see this type of escalating behaviour on an unarmed woman. I hope this will serve as an opportunity for training and hopefully lead to more respectful and less traumatizing outcomes in the future.