Family of man injured during arrest in Prince Albert demands answers

Members of a Saskatchewan family say they’re devastated and grieving as their loved one is kept alive by machines in a hospital after an arrest by Prince Albert police officers.

Boden Umpherville’s mother and brother said he is alive but is not showing any brain activity. They said they are preparing to say goodbye once he is taken off life support.

The incident that injured Umpherville, 40, happened on April 1 in Prince Albert.

A statement issued by the Prince Albert Police Service said officers stopped a car they believed was stolen in the early-morning hours.

Police said a 40-year-old man was taken into custody after “an incident that resulted in police members deploying conducted energy weapons.” According to the statement, the man later went into “medical distress” and was taken to hospital.

Several videos of the incident circulated on social media. Witnesses said Umpherville was in the driver’s seat and was not given medical attention immediately after collapsing.

Umpherville’s brother Darry said he is “disgusted” with what he believes officers did to Umpherville.

He said his brother was “Tased and beaten” by the officers.

“Nobody deserves what my brother went through,” he said.

According to Darry, his brother’s injuries included two broken orbital bones, lacerations over his eye and on top of his head, and many injuries that required stitches.

Darry said his brother is a father of five and a youth worker who was working on improving his own life and the lives of youths in his community. He said he wants to see police officers take accountability for the situation.

Verna Umpherville said her son has a big heart, and loves kids and basketball. She said she hopes no other mother has to go through the pain she is dealing with.

“I don’t know why (the officers’) badges aren’t taken from them when these videos are out,” Verna said. “How are they still working?”

Through tears, she said officers did not try to revive her son after he was Tasered multiple times and beaten before finally being arrested.

Chase Sinclair, who was introduced during Friday’s media conference in Saskatoon as an “adopted family member,” called Umpherville a kind, compassionate and caring man who loved the outdoors and lived for his family.

Sinclair said Umpherville spent a lot of time sharing his own stories and experiences with kids in the community.

He described Umpherville’s arrest as “uncalled for, unjust, barbaric and … criminal.”

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the arrest, and the Prince Albert police are reportedly co-operating.

A statement from SIRT said Umpherville was in the vehicle along with two others, one of whom was the vehicle’s registered owner. The vehicle was reportedly put into motion during the altercation and hit a marked police vehicle.

The SIRT release said collapsible batons and pepper spray were also used in the arrest.

Earlier this month, paNOW reported Umpherville had outstanding charges in both Saskatoon and Prince Albert for driving while prohibited, possession of property obtained by crime, and several breaches. According to paNOW, a bench warrant was out for Umpherville’s arrest at the time of the altercation.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is supporting the family’s claim that Umpherville, a First Nations man, experienced excessive force at the hands of the officers.

Vice Chief Dutch Lerat told the media he feels like the issue of police brutality is one he’s raising every few months.

He said it’s frustrating knowing Umpherville’s family has been left with many questions and no answers from police.

Lerat said nine officers with the Prince Albert police were put on leave for a week after the incident, but he said he believes they have since returned to duty.

The vice chief raised concerns about police policies, particularly around caring for an individual after they have been Tasered.

“Are our people safe at the hands of police in Prince Albert?” Lerat asked.

Lerat pledged continued support to Umpherville’s family and persistence in seeking answers.

He said trust has been eroded between First Nations communities and the Prince Albert Police Service as a result of the incident. To work to correct that, Lerat urged openness and transparency from Christine Tell, Saskatchewan’s minister of corrections, policing and public safety, and SIRT executive director Greg Gudelot.

“It is our inherent and treaty right for equal and respectful justice and policing,” Lerat said.

Lerat said many good police officers work in Prince Albert, but said the incident with Umpherville “shatters a confidence of all of the officers.”

Sinclair called the support from the FSIN “magnificent,” and said the family is “beyond grateful.”

In a statement, the Prince Albert Police Service said it is working with SIRT on its investigation.

“The Prince Albert Police Service believes in processes that seek the facts and it is important that processes taken to assess the actions of all those involved, including the police, are fair, transparent, and defendable,” the police service said.

“We are fully co-operating with SIRT and as SIRT’s investigation is ongoing, PAPS is unable to comment further on this incident.”