The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the serious injury of a male suspect discovered following his arrest and detention by the Manitoba First Nations’ Police (MNFP) Service.
According to the notification received on July 18, 2021, the MNFP arrested a man following a pursuit that ended when the affected person (AP) went off the road and hit a house in Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN). Following transport to hospital, the individual was found to have a broken arm.
A team of IIU investigators was assigned to the investigation. Two MFNP officers were designated as witness officers, and three civilian witnesses were identified. In addition, MFNP file material and other information obtained by IIU investigators included:
- MFNP radio transmissions
- MFNP officers’ general reports, narratives and notes
- Photographs of vehicle that struck the house
- AP’s medical records
Based on all the witness accounts, AP’s injury was a result of sole responsibility of the driver of the truck and the collision with the house. The police officers’ acts to follow and catch up to the truck had no causal connection to the manner of driving of the truck or its collision with the house.
The report finds that no actions by any police officer caused or contributed to AP’s injury in any degree. There is nothing to indicate that any police officer applied any unnecessary or excessive force to AP. The injury sustained by AP resulted solely from the manner of driving of the truck and the subsequent collision with the house.
The IIU investigation is now closed, and the civilian director’s complete report is available online at www.iiumanitoba.ca. The details of this investigation were first announced on July 21, 2021.
