Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Aug 21/00) - An unruly inmate at an alternative land justice camp oustide Arviat had to be restrained by fellow inmates and camp supervisors and had to be sent back to prison.

It was the first such trouble experienced at the camp near Maguse Lake since it began operation this past May.

Philip Simonie, 29, of no fixed address, had to be taken out of the camp and sent back to the Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC) after the incidents on Aug. 2 and 7.

Simonie is accused of contaminating the camp's gasoline supply with a mixture of salt and ketchup .

In a separate incident, he became aggressive and unruly and vandalized his cabin. Two supervisors and four inmates subdued him.

Simonie was serving a 16-month sentence for break and enter, breach of probation and assault at BCC before being placed at the camp.

Director of corrections Ron McCormick described Simonie's behaviour at BCC as excellent and said it was felt spending time in a camp under the mentoring of an elder would be positive.

"He was asked if he would like to give it a try and he indicated that he felt he would like the opportunity," said McCormick.

"As in any other case, inmates are reviewed for eligibility to complete their sentences in camps. Phillip (Simonie) was assessed and approved."

In deciding who is acceptable for the alternative justice program, caseworkers look at an inmate's behaviour in BCC and past behaviour in camps.

McCormick said incidents of this nature are rare, and usually an offender can be dealt with in the camps, with counselling and a cooling-down period.

If it's decided the inmate cannot be handled in the camp, the inmate is returned to the BCC.

RCMP arrived at the Arviat camp on Aug. 8 and Simonie was back in the Baffin lockup the following day.

"The camps have been instructed to inform us of any problems and we will have the inmate removed from the camps by whatever means, including having the RCMP go to the camp and remove the offender," said McCormick.

"Again, these incidents are rare and when inmates are returned, it is usually at the mutual request of the camp operator and the offender.

"We are conducting a full review and will make changes to policy and procedures as seen necessary."