Family Says RCMP Officer Elbowed 71-year-old Woman in the Face
Loretta Edjericon of Fort Resolution suffered black eye, bruises
FORT RESOLUTION—RCMP in Northwest Territories are investigating a complaint about a Fort Resolution officer assaulting a community elder.
Margo Edjericon says her 71-year-old mother was injured when two officers pushed their way into her mother’s house at about 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Margo Edjericon says the officers were looking for a young woman. She says she told the two officers that the person they were looking for was in the house but was sleeping and she told them to come back later.
“They pushed their way in,” she said. “One cop . . . pinned me down on the floor with my arms behind my back and had his knee in my back.”
The other officer continued into the house.
“He came in the hallway and my mom was coming from the bedroom, and that other cop elbowed my mom in the face and had her pinned against the wall.”
Margo Edjericon says her mother, Loretta Edjericon — who is also the mother of Fort Resolution chief Louis Balsillie — suffered two black eyes, facial swelling and bruising to her arm. They’re waiting for test results to find out if she also suffered a concussion and broken nose.
“I trusted the cops all my life, till this happened,” said Margo Edjericon.
RCMP spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko says a senior G Division officer from outside the Fort Resolution detachment is investigating the incident.
“As with any investigation, there’s no specific limit to the time that it can take,” she said. “The important thing is to conduct a thorough investigation.”
Sturko says the officer being investigated is still on active duty in the community.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in West Coast Native News. Used with permission. All rights apply.
Go to: http://westcoastnativenews.com/family-says-rcmp-officer-elbowed-71-year-old-woman-in-the-face/
Share this:
-
Navajo President Tells Interior Department to Honor Its Trust Responsibility to Tribes
-
American Basketball Association Names Omaha Tribal Citizen Vice President of Native American Affairs
-
Navajo Nation Looks to Continue the Success of the Federal Land Buy-Back Program
-
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Issues Proclamation in Support of Oceti Sakowin Camp Safety
A horrible way to conduct business! Was the person they were searching for a danger to them?
Tough cops!
Picking on
Our
Ederly!
Shame
Shame
Shame
Bet
He
gets
Away
With it.
That’s a good question!!! I have a strong feeing they weren’t. And did they have a warrant to enter her house?!
This is so insulting to our elders. Is this officer not trained in how to treat the elderly? Doesn’t he know their bones at this age are brittle and pain can last for hours from any trauma. Whatever reason he seen fit to do this crime is unbelievable. He should be charged with elderly abuse to begin with. I have had officers in my family for years, this type of behavior is never acceptable from anyone.
May I add, due to the injury she has received… the pain could possible last longer. Bones of the elders are very fragile, when traumatized are a lot of times left with chronic pain. It sadden me to this a man could feel threaten by a 70ish year old female… this look like extreme excessive and truly unnecessary FORCE!
what a shame…an officer displaying accessive force on an elderly that pose no threat, abusing his authority on his own community & people? Does he have commanding officer to answer to? Some officers think they above the law. He should be rescreen for qualification to serve as a police officer. I think everyone falls within the criteria for jobs such as this & guidelines need to be fallowed & proper training as how to deal w/certain individuals. Someone out their that needs a job will probably better serve the community then someone who got favored in. This is police brutality & abuse & neglect on an elderly. Also endangerment on the elderly for being fragile. He needs to be charged & incarcerated for being abusive & do some time behind bars so that he learns his lesson to respect the community he serves.
what a shame? police brutality on a fragile elderly! She obviously pose no threat to have to abuse their authority just to apprehend a fugitive. What did he get this job cuz he’s a friend or relative of another police officer? What happen to being screen to see if u have good background & good qualifications & if u fall within the criteria of the job? Seems he misunderstood that even police officers are not above the law. I agree that police officers need to carry with them a mini camera to video how they deal w/individuals when they get called for duty. So is social service intervening cuz this is neglect & abuse on an elderly & endangering her cuz she’s fragile. Her rights were violated!
u would not to that to your grandma!
This is an abomination. To assault an elder in her own home is a travesty and a crime. The cop needs to be charged with assault and battery, elderly abuse and breaking and entering. The police state mentality has permeated and soured the so called justice system in the US and Canada. Murders are committed in both countries by the police and nobody is ever charged. When good cops complain about the bad cops they are demonized and ostracized or, as in the case of Chris Dorner of LAPD…MURDERED. What has become of the freedoms and sense of fair play? Oh yea that went out the window with our false flag attack on the twin towers on 9/11 and real “Day of infamy”
Not all people see elders was we do. And that’s sad.
I cannot stand when Police use excessive force but you cannot place full blame on the Police this time. Before anyone says something…yes I am Native…but when the Police are searching for a person you do not tell them to come back later. That’s harbouring a fugitive, aiding and abetting, and interfering in an investigation.
I’m sorry but if a person comes to my house and the police show up looking for that person…here ya go. Don’t put my family at risk because of their stupidity. If the person is family sorry same deal…you got yourself into the trouble you can get yourself out.
As for the assault, that’s an iffy part. How did she come out of the room? Was the door flung open quickly as they passed? If that’s the case its just training. You enter a home, domestic situations are the most dangerous, and the door opens quick you have no idea if the person is armed. Even if you see an elder, they could still pose a threat. Seen elders shoot like a pro in the past so you never know.
Right now I’m just reading one point of view. Until the report is released I’ll take the police side.