RCMP Officer Remanded In Tachie Incident

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 04:01 AM

A Ft St James RCMP Constable, Curtis Barrett has been remanded until the first week of November 2007 charged with dangerous driving under the criminal code.

Barrett was charged after it is alleged a 23 year old Tachie Reserve woman was run over by a police vehicle driven by the constable.

The Police, in their statement, say that two RCMP officers attended a wedding at the Tachie Reserve and were confronted by a large crowd. As they tried to leave the scene police allege that somehow Agatha Joseph, slipped, fell or was pushed near the back of the truck and was run over by the truck. The RCMP say the officers were trying to get away from an “aggressive crowd”

Tachie residents described the event differently, saying Joseph’s cousin Harvey Felix Jr. was hit first, police say they were unaware this happened. The crowd became more aggressive when the police did not provide assistance.

Paul Felix, a relative to both persons injured, told a different story. He said,” there was a wedding going on; the RCMP was driving around with no headlights on. The police car struck Harvey first, a group went after the police and the police tried to take off. As they did they struck Agatha." Felix said at the time that the office in question had been driving around without headlights before. He was warned, but he kept doing it.

Agatha has been in hospital on and off for the past year. She originally suffered sever injuries including a broken hip, ribs, and collar bone as well as lacerations to her scalp.

Chief Thomas Alexis of the Tachie Reserve says the young woman has lost the use of one eye, she can walk but with difficulty. She is up and about Alexis says, ‘her injuries will be with her the rest of her life”.

“I have been looking for answers as to what is going on “the chief said, but I haven’t been able to get any. This young woman was hospitalized for about a year he said, we want answers.

The family has hired a lawyer and says that they now will begin civil action in the matter. Agatha, they say, will never be the same again.

The RCMP are also conducting an internal investigation into the incident

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Posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: heidi1555 on September 25 2007 6:32 AM

The RCMP are also conducting an internal investigation into the incident???? Do we care what they have to say at this point? No. Would we believe what they have to say? Probably not. Why do they bother? That sentence should never be printed again as their rights to do the investigating needs to be taken away. Just like what was reported on the news last night about the fox(RCMP) in the chicken coop(CPC).
http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/Whatsnew/index_e.aspx?ArticleID=1387
When someone asks "Why" after their loved one was killed they are owed the truth.

Posted by: heidi1555 on September 25 2007 6:33 AM

killed or injured they are owed the truth...

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 25 2007 7:39 AM

Why do police go to reserves anyway? This isn't the good old days when the indians needed protection from the white trash, now the indians have their our culture of violence and abuse that is recorded as traditional. Police should not interfer with traditional indian lifestyles. Police should not go where they are not invited. If there is a problem wait for the indians to call, otherwise they run the risk of not understanding violence is traditional and ingrained in a culture the indians are trying not to loose.

Posted by: pisspulper on September 25 2007 8:03 AM

YamaDooPolCat,"violence is traditional and ingrained in a culture the indians are trying not to loose".??????? What are u saying here? Absolutely moronic. I don't see the FIRST NATIONS culture to be violent. I would think you are aware of native history in Canada, and what it has caused. Perhaps you associate some drunken natives fighting downtown as "indian" culture, HMM How about the "redneck white trash" who maintain our "paleface" culture of violence. PolCat, you should go experience some culture, of all kinds, you obviously have been immunized.

Posted by: pisspulper on September 25 2007 8:11 AM

Posted by: heidi1555 on September 25 2007 8:55 AM

Eeewww Yama...tsk tsk and shame on you. You just made me feel like I stepped back to the 1500's! Do you really not know any better? Please say you do.

Posted by: northman on September 25 2007 9:10 AM

No white people have ever threatned to kill me and my friends on a regular basis. I had to grow up living with this shit!! Being bullyed, beat up, having things stolen from me when i was going to school. Anyone who disagrees should take random trip to one of these remote reserves and see how long you are welcomed there.

Posted by: Raparee on September 25 2007 9:12 AM

"The family has hired a lawyer and says that they now will begin civil action in the matter."

Funny how money makes everything all better.

Posted by: owl on September 25 2007 9:52 AM

"You must be trolling."

YamaDooTrollCat is his real name ......

Posted by: owl on September 25 2007 10:01 AM

"Anyone who disagrees should take random trip to one of these remote reserves and see how long you are welcomed there."

I spent a wonderful 10 days in Old Crow some years back. 300 or so Gwitchin livng next to an airstrip that is their connection to the rest of the world.

I was very welcomed there. I spent the weekend evenings playing bingo with them and eating boiled cariboo ... yuck.

They are great people who really do not know anything about treaties and land use battles. No one bothers them.

http://www.oldcrow.ca

Posted by: Andyfreeze on September 25 2007 10:12 AM

I actually agree with Yama to a certian extent.
While there are good reserves and not so good reserves,I have spent much of my life in very close proximity to several.
And while that does not make me an expert by any means,it does give me some knowledge about what goes on firsthand.
I also have some very good friends who live on a reserve and they are not a bit shy about telling what goes on at times.
As much as I hate to say it,they can be extremely violent places,but usually when you add alcohol and drugs.
Police go to the rez because they are CALLED to the rez, by people who live there and fear for their own safety!
I also know that the older people in many cases fear for their safety even in their own home at times.
And if you don't believe that,go spend some time there and I don't mean just taking a drive through.
It will change your outlook I think.
Sure, there is plenty of violence in the "white"community as well,but it is generally not concentrated in such a small area and that is perhaps why it is maybe more noticable.
I have also been in the same situation as "northman" many times through my job in the past.
It does happen!
The reserve is a native domain and a white face is considered an intrusion not to be trusted in most cases.
But then,who's fault is that?

Posted by: northman on September 25 2007 10:19 AM

I think both parties are guilty in this case. There is usually two sides to every story and this one there is a conflict on both sides so its basically biased on both accounts. It doesnt matter who started this despute what matters is both sides could not handle the situation and tempers flared. The RCMP should have stayed away and just monitored the crowd and the crowd should not have swarmed/chased the cruizer.I dont know about you guys but if i was getting swarmed by a potentialy voilent crowd survival and personal safety would kick in and i would be getting out of there at all costs. This is not only my opinion but also from someone who witnessed the event take place.

Posted by: seamutt on September 25 2007 11:09 AM

Well said northman!

Posted by: pisspulper on September 25 2007 11:11 AM

Some good points about reserves. I also live near a reserve, been there many times, never felt threatened but couldn't say i felt comfortable either. Gypsy villages in eastern europe feel the same way, you are an outsider. But perhaps we have made them this way. Perhaps the ostracizing of both of these cultures creates a shell of civilization for them to retreat to. The majority of us dont't really attempt to enjoy their culture, possibly because of our own created bias towards them. Haven't you all been guilty of insults or degrading the natives sometime in your life? If not , i'm sure you someone who has and does. This of course is good for one's self esteem. I myself have done the same at some point in my life. OOPs. But then i grew up. I was invited to a Sweat years ago. It was one of the most profound spiritual and cultural experiences thus far in my life. If you should ever have the privilege of taking a Sweat, go for it, perhaps you will be rewarded and afforded some insight to the other side of their culture. Should't fault others if u have faults of your own.

Posted by: pisspulper on September 25 2007 11:17 AM

Should't fault others if u have faults of your own.

I apologize for that line, i must humbly retract it. I have erred again and forgotten that "you are all Perfect"

Posted by: pulpworker on September 25 2007 11:41 AM

grew up next to a rural reserve, played there with my native friends as a young child, two of my best friends have status cards, good jobs, and great families. wish i had tax exemption, but i don't. you should all be thankful you didn't grow up on a reserve.

Posted by: Buzz on September 25 2007 7:16 PM

Yamadoopolcat: Sucks to be you.

Posted by: Buzz on September 25 2007 7:20 PM

Actually, I apologize for the above comment. A knee jerk reaction but still no reason for me to sink to stupidity with dumb comments. In fact, making any comment on Yamadoopolcat's latest contributions to humanity is a comlete waste of space.

Posted by: Runner46 on September 25 2007 8:32 PM

Does anyone remember what this article is about?