Yellowknife, NWT – Two people have been charged with assaulting police officers after separate incidents in Behchoko at the weekend.
A 38-year-old man became violent, according to an RCMP statement, while being arrested following a report that he had become intoxicated and refused to leave his girlfriend’s house.
Separately, a 52-year-old man – named as Alfred Thomas, of Behchoko – allegedly injured a police officer in an altercation on the same night.
RCMP say officers responding to a report of a domestic disturbance faced a “lengthy struggle” to arrest Thomas, during which both he and an officer were injured.
In all, three people – including a police officer – were treated and released at the Behchoko Health Centre.
Both Thomas and the 38-year-old face charges of mischief, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. RCMP have sent both cases for external review.
On the same night, the Thomas family in Behchoko uploaded a video to Facebook showing an incident in which officers are heard apparently attempting an arrest.
In a Facebook post, the owner of the video says police “beat up” her father. That video has since been shared more than 100 times.
Link to the video, which contains strong language, and a photo claiming to show the man involved.
RCMP say officers were taking the necessary steps to make a lawful arrest.
“The Behchoko RCMP never wants to see members of the public get injured,” Constable Elenore Sturko told Moose FM. “However, officers are duty-bound to make lawful arrests under the provisions of the criminal code.
“It is always our hope to have situations resolved peacefully, and we do work hard to bring safe resolutions to potentially dangerous situations.
“We do appreciate when the public is cooperative with us.
“There is no right to resist a lawful arrest.”
RCMP say anyone who feels they have been wrongfully arrested should pursue that through other channels – for example, the legal process – rather than resist arrest at the time.
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