Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 16, 2008

TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON - A bylaw officer was badly beaten in Fort McPherson on June 7 by several people while bystanders looked on, recorded the fight with a video camera, and made taunts.

Steven Black, 18, said he was driving the bylaw officer's truck towards a gathering at the boat launch when a group of about 20 people surrounded the truck.

"One individual ripped open the passenger's side door and started screaming things at me. Mostly things I wouldn't repeat," said Black.

He said the individual insulted his family members and their work in the community. Black's father, Sgt. Steven Black Sr., is an RCMP officer, and his mother, Deanna Black, is the chief administration officer for the hamlet.

"They told me because my dad wasn't there to protect me now I'd better get out of the truck."

Black said he got out of the truck and was taunted with racial slurs and pushing.

"I didn't want to start a fight because I didn't want to lose my job. I finally got mad and just had enough of it and I pushed him back.

"I shouldn't have sunk to that level. There are only so many times they can call you a white this or a white that before you finally just get mad."

At that point another person reportedly grabbed Black and he was moved to a position away from the door of his truck.

As soon as he was away from the door, the first person who accosted him, whom Black calls the ringleader, went to kick Black in the groin he told News/North. When Black moved his hands to block the kick, the ringleader punched him in the face, he said.

"Everyone was grabbing at me. The main person, the ringleader, grabbed me by the throat. I picked him up and threw him on the ground. As I was coming down with him someone hit me from behind and I fell forward, almost on top of him. At that point the blows started coming from every which way. It seemed to relent for a bit and that's when I lifted my head up. That's when an individual just kicked me in the face," he said.

Black added the beating went on for what seemed like an eternity. The crowd scattered when the RCMP arrived. Black said his father was the first officer on the scene.

Robert Greenland, the hamlet's former bylaw officer, has been charged with assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest. Another youth was also arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer.

Black was well enough to drive himself home. He went to the health centre the next morning with a swollen jaw and injuries to his lower back. The nurses at the health centre sent him to the hospital in Inuvik for tests and observations.

"The doctor told me that one of the vertebrae in my back had been compressed because of all the kicking," said Black.

He said he was still in pain three days after the incident and is suffering from urinary problems. Doctors are monitoring his kidneys for more serious damage.

The incident was caught on video tape by one of the many bystanders. The police later recovered this recording and are using it as evidence.

Fort McPherson Mayor Bill Prodromidis said he watched the video police confiscated. It was shown to him along with Chief Wilbert Firth and the deputy mayor.

"We know who did the first punch and who made the first move. There was alcohol involved. There were a lot of under-aged people involved. There were only two graduates there at the time," said Prodromidis.

He said the video shows only one person was pepper sprayed, and the police had done a good job in dispersing the crowd.

Local MLA David Krutko raised the issue of police brutality in the legislative assembly. He asked if there was a way to file a complaint in the case of "police brutality" or if "charter rights had been violated." Krutko said several constituents had called him about the issue.

Black feels the incident might not have happened if he had been given proper equipment.

"The hamlet left me hanging. I had no way of calling from help. Even if I was in the vehicle I could have maybe called some truckers to come help me but I had no real back up. I didn't even have a weapon to defend myself," said Black.

Black's mother, Deanna, said she has pulled her two youngest sons out of school and resigned from the hamlet.

She said she plans to leave Fort McPherson. Black intends to complete his contract. After injuring himself and getting leave from the Canadian Forces last November, he returned to McPherson.

He is in no condition to work at the moment, and he worries that if his back doesn't heal properly he will never be able to pursue his dream of serving in the military.

"I'm not going to let them scare me away from town. Once the hamlet has put in safety provisions for me, I will most likely come back to work," said Black.