A video capturing the forceful apprehension of an individual in Saskatchewan, who was subsequently released without charges, has gained significant traction on social media. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), responsible for overseeing police conduct, is conducting an investigation following the man’s injury during his arrest by Battlefords RCMP on October 6.
According to the RCMP’s statement, officers attempted to stop a vehicle that evaded them, eventually halting at a residence on Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation at approximately 1 p.m. CST. The driver, found to have a suspended license and an outstanding warrant, was apprehended without complications.
Two passengers, a man and a woman, were also in the vehicle. The male passenger declined to exit upon request, leading officers to forcibly remove him, arrest him, and request EMS for further evaluation, as stated in the RCMP report.
The man, who was later released without charges, was later deemed in need of additional medical attention. The incident was recorded and shared on social media by Dee-ann Sakascootch, the man’s sister-in-law, who claimed he sustained a broken arm during the arrest.
Video footage depicts the man in the vehicle’s back seat exhibiting signs of disorientation and instability. Despite Sakascootch informing officers of the man’s disabilities and medical conditions, they proceeded to arrest him for obstruction.
An escalation in the situation occurred off-camera, leading to the man being forcibly removed from the vehicle by officers. The man was informed of his charges and detained following the incident.
The family declined to comment on the event, while Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation opted not to provide a statement, deferring to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations for a forthcoming media release. Given the severity of the man’s injury, SIRT was alerted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
