First Nations observer urged for shooting investigation
The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation is asking that a First Nations individual be appointed as a local observer into the investigation of a Dawson City man shot by the RCMP last week.
The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation is asking that a First Nations individual be appointed as a local observer into the investigation of a Dawson City man shot by the RCMP last week.
Mark McDiarmid, 32, was scheduled to make his first appearance in court early this afternoon.
McDiarmid faces seven changes in connection with the incident, including two counts of attempted murder and assaulting a peace officer.
Last Thursday, two RCMP officers from the Dawson City detachment were attempting to arrest a man.
During the incident, the man engaged police with a weapon and was shot when the officers feared for their safety, the RCMP said.
Police provided first aid and called for medical assistance. He was then medevaced to Whitehorse for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
A long-handled axe was recovered from the scene.
The case is now being investigated by ASIRT, an Alberta civilian organization. Its mandate is to investigate incidents involving serious injury or death that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer.
Earlier this week, investigators said McDiarmid remained in hospital with serious injuries.
"The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in are always deeply concerned whenever one of our citizens has a negative encounter with the RCMP,” the First Nation said in a press release.
"The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in will be doing all they can to guarantee their citizens' rights and well-being are protected throughout the investigation.
"We look forward to ASIRT's findings.”
Comments (6)
Up 0 Down 0
oh please on Oct 31, 2011 at 9:51 am
An axe wielding mentally ill person is at least as dangerous, probably more so, than a non-mentally ill person, and our fine officers wouldn't have been any less injured or dead if they had not shot this man. Pull your heads out.
Up 0 Down 0
Steve E on Oct 30, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Thanks for the reality check Glen Everitt. Hopefully this unfortunate individual will try harder to be on his meds in the future, for the safety and well being of all concerned.
Up 0 Down 0
glen everitt on Oct 29, 2011 at 8:01 am
Wow, all experts. I wont excuse Marks actions. However Mark has a mental illness that the RCMP are aware of. It is obvious he was off his medication. This is another example of a lack of resources as well as training by law enforcement how to deal with a situation like this. You can not fly into town and act like you know it all, a little research and reaching out to people in the community close with Mark would have provided insight into this unfortunate event.
Up 0 Down 1
Billy Polson on Oct 29, 2011 at 1:08 am
The guy required a shootin'. Whatever goes on in his head is everyone's problem so why not let the guys we pay to take care of idiots like this do their job, without a bunch of complaints that they were picking on him. Any attempt to justify his actions due to his misfortune in life is idiocy as well.
Up 0 Down 0
On the side of the law on Oct 28, 2011 at 12:12 am
Yup, I like your logic. The cops tried to 'get to him' only once he was out of town.
Maybe if buddy hadn't left town in the first place and had pulled over to the side of the road as required when the police first tried to stop him none of this would have happened. It's called respect for the law and law officers. It's not optional or something you can choose to do or not do as you wish.
He just better be glad he's in Canada as if he had tried a stunt like this with police in the USA he'd be in a body bag right now instead of recuperating in the hospital.
There have been a few RCMP officers shot at or attacked in the north over the last few years by 'Long time residents' who 'Just about everybody knows'. That doesn't make the cop any less dead when attacked or shot does it?
There seems to be this attitude that just because you didn't have to listen to mommy and daddy when you were growing up you don't have to listen to police officers either. Well, guess what? There are consequences to pulling stunts like this guy did.
My congratulations to the RCMP officers who were professional enough to only wound this fellow.
Up 0 Down 0
Yup! on Oct 27, 2011 at 1:07 am
The kid is doomed. There is an axe that the RCMP can call a weapon. There are two officers, no other witnesses.
What was the need to try to get to him only once he's out of town, out of view, away from additional assistance like other members of the detachment, medical responders? They could have made a call to Mayo or Pelly detachment and have them wait for him as well.
Mr. McDiarmid is not a transient, he is a long time resident and just about everyone knows him.
The new kids on the block that have joined the force in the last few years, seems to have acquired their experiences
in the military.