(submitted photo/Alice Herman)

By Nicole Reis

arrest on video

Family claims excessive force after La Loche arrest caught on video

Sep 1, 2020 | 6:16 PM

A video of a local man’s arrest and an armed police response at a senior’s housing complex is gaining traction online and raising questions about police use of force. Police say the force was necessary.

Nick Janvier, 24, was arrested by multiple officers in La Loche last weekend. The video of his arrest has spurred accusations of excessive police force. The Mounties say the suspect was wanted for assaulting a police officer and resisting custody.

The video shows family members looking on as Janvier is loaded into a police cruiser by multiple officers. Janvier’s cousin, Randall Janvier, said the incident has left onlookers, including children, traumatized.

Randall told meadowlakeNOW the incident occurred at a seniors’ subsidized housing complex where he was visiting family with his young children. He said he was surprised to see officers outside with drawn weapons.

“There were officers at the door with no search warrant, ready to kick the door open holding firearms while there are kids inside,” he said. “I opened the door and told [police] I didn’t want this to happen.”

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According to Randall’s account, three officers made their way inside after he pleaded with the suspect to cooperate. When the suspect placed his hands behind his back to be handcuffed, Randall said the officers accused his cousin of resisting arrest and sat on him as a restraint.

Randall says he was not aware of any outstanding warrants for his cousin Nick’s arrest however he knew he was on court-ordered conditions from a previous incident. Since the arrest, Randall claims he and his young daughter experienced insomnia and vivid nightmares.

Randall said his cousin sustained a broken left arm and bruising all over his body. The family also alleges his mother was kept from seeing him at the hospital where he was taken after the arrest.

The suspect’s aunt, Bonnie Janvier, arrived after the incident and says his height of only about 5-1 would have made it impossible to overtake three officers.

She said the level of response to arresting her nephew was inappropriate and claims everyone who witnessed it felt threatened.

“What they did to my mother’s house was very wrong, especially when there are innocent children in here at an old folk’s home,” she said.

La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre said while he was not sure exactly what occurred during the incident, he has arranged a meeting with La Loche RCMP for Sept. 9. St. Pierre said there are isolated incidents that occur in the community and he wants to ensure locals feel safe.

“If there has been misconduct, then we’ll certainly want to deal with it appropriately so this doesn’t happen again,” he said. “I want to ensure public safety is something we’re going to address at our next meeting with RCMP.”

RCMP response

Saskatchewan RCMP issued a release related to the incident stating three RCMP officers sustained injuries while responding. Two of the officers were treated at the local hospital and have since been released.

RCMP said Janvier was arrested on several outstanding warrants for breaching court-ordered conditions. The charges stem from an incident on Aug. 22 where he allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted a police officer.

The statement said the members attended the residence as it was a location the suspect was known to stay. When they arrived they said he attempted to escape out of a window in the home.

“Officers were given permission by an occupant of the residence to enter. Two officers entered the residence where they located the male and advised him he was under arrest. The male did not comply with the officer’s commands,” the statement said. “The officers took hold of the male in an attempt to handcuff him. The male continued to resist arrest and assaulted the officers. As a result, the officers increased their efforts to arrest the male and requested additional officers to assist with the arrest.”

Police said the increased response of additional officers in making the arrest was necessary to subdue Janvier enough to apply handcuffs.

“The male continued to resist arrest as they exited the residence. The officers lifted the male in order to place him into the police vehicle,” the statement said.

After the arrest, police learned of his injuries and transported him to hospital via EMS, the statement said. The media release did not specify the injuries. Afterward, he was transferred back to RCMP custody.

As a result of this incident, police said Janvier was charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest. He is due to appear in court on Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m in La Loche.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722