.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An allegation that a Yellowknife woman was Tasered by RCMP while holding her two young children could result in an investigation by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP.

A Taser, or conductive energy weapon, shown here, was used on a Yellowknife woman last March by RCMP. The incident may be investigated by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP. - NNSL File photo

The incident took place in March 2008 in Yellowknife and came to light after media reports last week. The woman involved filed a complaint against the RCMP, which was investigated by the Public Prosecution office in Whitehorse.

"There was a criminal investigation," said Yellowknife RCMP Sgt. Wayne Norris.

"That investigation was completed and forwarded to the Department of Justice for review."

He said it was recommended no charges be laid as the Taser, or conductive energy weapon, was found to have been used appropriately.

Norris said the RCMP were not at liberty to discuss the details of the incident any further.

Nelson Kalil, a spokesperson for the complaints commission , said they had received a copy of the letter of disposition - a letter detailing the police investigation into the Taser incident.

He said he could not confirm if the woman who was Tasered had also received a copy of that letter but she is legally entitled to a copy.

"If she is not satisfied with their investigation she could ask (the commission) to review that investigation," said Kalil.

He said there is not currently any investigation by the commission underway and that usually it is the complainant who requests an investigation into RCMP conduct be launched - but that is not always the case.

"At any point the chair here could decide he would like to launch an investigation ... of his own volition," said Kalil.