VANCOUVER – First Nations leaders are slamming the RCMP and the justice system after two recent incidents involving aboriginals in B.C., including an in-custody death and the alleged police beating of a teenaged girl.
A 19-year-old man died in the Prince George Regional Remand Centre earlier this week after being transferred there shortly after his arrest in Williams Lake.
In the second case, a 17-year-old girl claims she was punched by a Mountie while in handcuffs in the back of a police car in Williams Lake after she made a 911 call on Sept. 10th.
The B.C. First Nations Summit, the B.C. Assembly of First Nations and two other native groups say these are the latest examples of how the RCMP and the justice system are mistreating aboriginals.
Assembly Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould says it’s time for the province’s solicitor general to take a hard look at aboriginal people and the justice system in central and northern B.C.
The First Nation leaders are also demanding independent investigations into the two cases, a call that came as the Abbotsford Police announced they are taking over the investigation into the incident involving the 17-year-old girl.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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