Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Tuktoyaktuk (Sep 30/02) - It was a busy day in territorial court Sept. 25, with a docket full of drug and alcohol charges stemming from a police crackdown this summer.

In total, eight people were charged with bootlegging and at least nine others faced a variety of drug charges for possession of cocaine and marijuana. Most of the cases have been adjourned for trial dates Nov. 20.

Also on the docket Wednesday was the case of a man who accused RCMP officers of brutality following his arrest in August. He was unable to attend.

In a high-profile case unrelated to drugs or bootlegging, John Noksana Sr., 55, faces one count of resisting arrest relating to an incident where he was publicly intoxicated Aug. 10. He was instead in Yellowknife for medical tests related to the minor stroke he suffered recently.

His lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. His trial date was also set for Nov. 20.

Noksana's case sparked a public outcry against the RCMP earlier this month as several witnesses backed his claims that he offered no resistance but was beaten while intoxicated. More than 200 residents signed a petition accusing the RCMP of "using unnecessary use of force" and "harassing the citizens of the community."

Noksana has laid a formal complaint against the RCMP, which has so far remained unresolved.

Const. Alan Shepherd of the Tuktoyaktuk RCMP says the detachment's officers seized approximately $20,000 in illicit drugs and $10,000 in bootleg liquor during a series of operations in July and August.

"It was a crackdown on our part and, of course, we got assistance from the community," Shepherd says. "Council was concerned, people were concerned, and once we started doing it, members of the public just started calling us."

Shepherd told News/North last month that he thinks some of the tension in the community arose from the crackdown on alleged drug traffickers and bootleggers.

Meanwhile, some in the community have accused the RCMP of using the drug and liquor busts to divert attention from the complaints against them.

In one of the larger busts, 44-year-old Wayne Gruben was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking after police seized marijuana with an estimated street value of $11,000.

- With files from John Barker.