The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the circumstances surrounding a serious injury sustained by an adult female during her arrest by RCMP in Russell.
On November 1, 2021, RCMP reported an incident to the IIU that occurred on September 17, 2021. According to the notification, a female filed a complaint with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) for the RCMP on October 21, 2021, regarding an injury she sustained during her arrest by an RCMP officer on September 17, 2021, in Russell. The female reported to the CRCC that she sustained a broken wrist as a result of the incident.
As a broken wrist is defined as a serious injury under IIU regulations, the IIU was mandated to investigate and investigators were assigned. Information obtained by IIU investigators included:
- RCMP dispatch radio communications;
- officers’ notes and reports;
- occurrence summary;
- cell block surveillance videos;
- medical report concerning the affected person; and
- video footage from multiple sources.
The civilian director designated the involved RCMP member as the subject officer and four other RCMP members as witness officers. IIU investigators interviewed the affected person and four civilian witnesses.
Following completion of the IIU investigation, the civilian director forwarded the investigative file to Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS) and requested a review and opinion on whether any Criminal Code charges should be authorized against the officer.
MPS reviewed the IIU investigation and concluded there was no basis to charge the subject officer with any offence. Accordingly, the IIU investigation is now complete and the file is closed. The affected person remains before the court on charges arising from the incident. The civilian director’s report on the incident will be made available following disposition of those charges.
The details of the investigation were first announced on November 2, 2021.
