Emily Kammermayer has made a complaint regarding her treatment by La Ronge RCMP. (submitted photo/Emily Kammermayer)

By panow Staff

hospital incident

La Ronge resident charged in hospital incident makes formal complaint against RCMP

Jan 25, 2021 | 7:05 PM

A La Ronge mother who is facing charges including assault on three officers has filed a complaint with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. She and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples says she was the victim of police brutality and racism. An RCMP professional responsibility unit is investigating the complaint.

Details of the complaint came via a press release issued Monday by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, which also held a web conference later in the day with complainant Emily Kammermayer. The press release states Kammermayer, who is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, went to the La Ronge Health Centre Dec. 29 seeking medical attention for her two-year-old son.

She claims the attending doctor refused to provide an x-ray, an argument occurred and police were then called. When officers arrived, Kammermayer’s son ran out of the examination room, into the hospital and as she was attempting to retrieve them, she was tackled by RCMP and, allegedly punched in the head.

“One of the officers grabbed me by the hair and threw me to the ground,” she said. “I was in shock and I tried to squirm free. One of the officers placed their knee on my neck.”

While in police custody, Kammermayer claims she was hogtied by police with twist-ties and told to ‘hop like a bunny’ into her cell. She said officers laughed at her and guards threatened her to plead guilty.

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Some of the injuries sustained by Kammermayer. (submitted photo/Emily Kammermayer)

Injuries sustained by Kammermayer. (submitted photo/Emily Kammermayer)

Kammermayer believes officers were under the impression they had been called to the scene of a violent patient holding a child hostage, based on a report given to police by hospital staff.

“The officers was very surprised when I said I brought my son there for medical attention and that he was the patient,” she said. “I told him he should have checked the camera footage first or talked to me.”

Kammermayer was ultimately charged with assaulting three officers, assault with a weapon and resisting arrest. She said she plans to file a lawsuit and make a formal complaint against the doctor involved. Since the incident, she’s received medical care in Saskatoon and has an upcoming appointment for a CT scan.

RCMP confirm that officers were called to the health centre about an alleged assault between a woman and a doctor that day at about 1 p.m.

“If there is an individual who is violent or threatening violence and staff fear for the safety of patients, other health-care workers or themselves, they would contact their local police service for support,” Saskatchewan Health Authority spokesman Doug Dahl said in a statement.

Police confirm a physical altercation occurred while Kammermayer was being placed under arrest.

A spokesman said Kammermayer has been charged with offences such as assault on a police officer, obstructing police and assault with a weapon.

Kammermayer said she was told the weapon was the door she slammed.

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin said Kammermayer’s case involves systemic racism in the health care system, as well as police brutality. He said officers used unjustified, excessive force in her arrest and she was later diagnosed with a concussion and had injuries to her neck.

Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin as seen during the web conference. (screenshot/Zoom)

“She was later arrested for uttering threats to the RCMP at 4 a.m. on Jan. 17, the day before Emily was contacted by a sergeant who was investigating Emily’s complaint she filed on Dec. 31,” Beaudin said. “RCMP swooped in on her place of residence without identifying themselves as they pounded on the door without an arrest warrant or even stating who they were.”

Beaudin believes the visit was retaliation for making the complaint and said it was unprofessional conduct by the RCMP.

With files from The Canadian Press

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panews@jpbg.ca