Questions mount after youth arrest

The teen was released at approximately 8:30 a.m. and was not charged with a criminal offence.

The incident has drawn strong reactions from family members, who gathered alongside supporters to speak publicly about the arrest and its impact on the youth.

Aunt Kirstie West said her nephew became involved while attempting to de-escalate a dispute between two friends before police arrived.

“My nephew is kind of trying to mediate a situation between his two friends,” West said. “There was an argument between his friends and the cops were called, and he was trying to mediate.”

West alleged the officers used unnecessary force during the arrest.

“They tried to knee him in the face,” she said. “And then when they got him down on the ground, they started punching him when he was already on the ground, which was very unnecessary.”

She said the incident has left the teen traumatized and fearful of future interactions with police.

“He’s only 15 years old, and for them to treat him in that way, it just breaks my heart,” West said. “He recently lost his mother and he’s just been dealing with a lot of grief. He’s a child in care right now.”

The youth’s aunt, Anne Ketlo, said she was unable to watch the entire video after seeing portions of the footage circulating online.

“What the RCMP had done to him is awful,” Ketlo said. “I’m absolutely speechless. I had to turn off the video. I couldn’t watch it because it just broke my heart.”

Ketlo described her nephew as an innocent young person who became caught in a difficult situation and questioned whether officers would face consequences if misconduct is found.

“Everybody is here today because he has lost his parents,” she said. “He’s leaving Prince George today to go back to Saik’uz so that his grandmother and his family can help him heal from this trauma.”

Community leaders also used the gathering to call for broader changes in policing and justice systems.

Carrier Sekani Family Services Chief Administrative Officer Mary Teegee said the incident has resonated with Indigenous communities because it reflects longstanding concerns about police interactions with Indigenous people.

“At the end of the day, the end result is a little 15-year-old boy was brutalized by the RCMP,” Teegee said. “How many times are we going to hear this story across Canada again and again and again?”

Teegee said the issue extends beyond one community and requires action from people across the country.

“This is a Canadian issue,” she said. “And it’s going to take every Canadian that watches this video, that sees what happened to this young boy, to say enough is enough.”

RCMP say they are aware of the complaint and have launched an internal review.

“We are aware of a complaint concerning an arrest that was made in the early morning hours of June 30th,” said RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Jennifer Cooper. “We are currently investigating this complaint as per RCMP policy, through the proper and appropriate channels.”

Cooper added that anyone wishing to file a complaint regarding RCMP actions can contact the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP.

As of Thursday, B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office had not been notified of the incident. The IIO is responsible for investigating cases involving police where death or serious harm may have resulted from an officer’s actions or inaction, whether on or off duty.

The release of the video has intensified calls for transparency and accountability as the investigation moves forward. Family members say their focus remains on supporting the youth as he recovers from the incident.

For many gathered at the community rally, the arrest has become a symbol of larger concerns about the treatment of Indigenous youth by police and the need to rebuild trust between law enforcement and Indigenous communities. Whether further investigations are launched remains to be seen, but community members say they will continue seeking answers about what happened during the arrest and whether the force used was justified.

by Nick Dube

Questions mount after youth arrest

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