A Cree father from Manitoba is calling for justice after his son was seriously injured during an encounter with Winnipeg police officers.
Larry Beardy of Tataskweyak Cree Nation alleges racism played a role in how officers responded to an incident involving his son, Chad Beardy, in the early hours of Dec. 19 in the 400 block of Furby Street.
“I think racism is a big factor,” Larry told APTN News Monday. “Racism, and people don’t understand. They are deliberately ignorant.”
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) has hired Winnipeg lawyer Chad Panting to investigate after Chad Beardy suffered a broken leg.
AMC represents 63 First Nations in Manitoba.
The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) says its officers responded to a report of a man and woman arguing at a home, with one party allegedly armed with an edged weapon. Police claim the man, identified as Chad Beardy, was armed when they arrived and ignored verbal warnings before approaching officers, leading them to deploy a “conducted energy weapon” (Taser).
But Chad’s family and his lawyer dispute this. They claim Chad was unarmed and police used excessive force.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, which takes over cases when a member of the public is harmed by police, is now in charge.
It said in a news release Monday that WPS informed them on Dec. 20 about an adult male who “sustained a serious injury”.
Officers were called
It said officers were called about an “intoxicated male armed with an edged weapon and attempting to stab someone near the 400 block of Furby Street. Officers arrived and encountered a male brandishing an edged weapon. Officers repeatedly directed the male to drop the weapon, but he walked toward them.
“An officer deployed a conducted energy weapon, causing the male to fall on ice,” the IIU release added. “The male subsequently complained of a sore leg and was transported by ambulance to Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg. Police later learned the male’s right tibia and fibula were fractured and notified the IIU.”
“He didn’t fall on ice,” said Panting. “They (allegedly) physically assaulted him and broke his leg in two places. His fibula and tibia are completely broken, and he is now awaiting surgery.”
AMC says Chad waited up to 16 hours for medical treatment. His court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 11.
Panting says he is filing complaints with the Law Enforcement Review Agency and plans to file a civil claim against the police service.
Larry says his son, a construction worker, is now uncertain about his future.
“I don’t know what condition he will (in) be after this, if he will be able to go back to a career he loves to do,” he said.
The family also disputes that police knew Chad’s identity at the time of the arrest.
“He wasn’t even identified, so how would the police be able to factor that into their assessment of risk?” said Panting. “It was based on appearance.”
The AMC and Beardy family are calling for a national inquiry into systemic racism and policing in Canada.
