Yellowknife (July 30/03) - A Yellowknife man says police arrested his 19-year-old son because they didn't like the way he looked.

Chris Engelhardt says police overstepped their bounds by hauling his son to the RCMP detachment when he hadn't done anything wrong. He is considering launching a civil suit against the RCMP.

During the summer months, kids of all ages get together in the evenings near St. Joseph school and play tag and other games, said Engelhardt.

His son was at the park on July 8 with a group. When he did not return home by 11 p.m., Engelhardt went to look for him. The kids there told him police arrested his son, saying they didn't like the way he looked.

Sacha is six feet, seven inches tall and has a big bushy beard, which he grew for a role in a local theatre production.

Engelhardt phoned the RCMP detachment right away. Police admitted his son hadn't actually done anything wrong, and they weren't charging him.

"I said what did he do? They said he didn't do anything, but a citizen complained so they had to arrest him. I said no you don't."

He then picked up his son in the holding cell, who was upset and confused about why four police tackled and hand-cuffed him and put him in jail.

Engelhardt, who is originally from Germany, is incensed that police would do this in Canada.

He said the incident scared his son, and doesn't go over to the park any more.

The only thing is son did was refuse to give the police his name. "I taught him that," said Engelhardt.

Now he fears his son's reputation is damaged he said. Half the neighbourhood heard about the incident and thinks his son is a criminal, he said.

Engelhardt and his son complained and met with RCMP Insp. Paul Richards.

Richards declined to explain what happened to Yellowknifer. He said he will review the file and try to resolve the matter privately with Engelhardt.

Engelhardt said Richards was very polite during their meeting. But Engelhardt believes Richards won't find in his favour. "The wolf is guarding the chicken coop."