The incident that some are calling a riot happened on June 26, 2015. The OPP state that officers were in process of making an arrest that saw another community member attempt to intervene.
That let to a reported tasering of that individual.
Later that day, a protest outside of the OPP detachment in Pikangikum started with about twenty people that grew to a crowd of near 200 people.
As the incident grew, some of the individuals in what started as a peaceful protest ended up causing damage to the vehicles and building. OPP officers were barricaded in their office.
The North West Region Ontario Provincial Police Crime Unit, following the June 26th incident investigated the Pikangikum incident
Pikangikum Chief Peters says, “Myself, Council members, elders and community members are pleased that the incident has been resolved in a peaceful and decisive manner and those responsible have been held accountable. It is important to note that the actions of a few do not reflect the community at large. We currently have, and will continue to have, a strong and positive relationship with both the OPP and Pikangikum Police Service.”
The OPP have made the following arrests over the past several days:
Lovina Pascal, a thirty-year-old female from Pikangikum is charged with the following offence contrary to the Criminal Code:
– Assault a Peace Officer with a Weapon
Jerius Quill, a forty-four-year-old male from Pikangikum is charged with:
– Break, Enter a Place – Commit Indictable Offence
– Mischief Over $5,000
Bradley Kelly Suggashie, a thirty-year-old male from Pikangikum is charged with:
– Break, Enter a Place – Commit Indictable Offence
– Break, Enter a Dwelling House with Intent to Commit Indictable Offence
– Mischief Over $5,000 x 2
Daniel Turtle, a nineteen-year-old male from Pikangikum is charged with:
– Mischief Over $5,000 x 2
The OPP report that four young persons from Pikangikum were also arrested and charged. Those individual who can not be named include a thirteen-year-old male for Mischief Under $5,000 and Break, Enter a Place – Commit Indictable Offence; a fifteen-year-old male for two counts of Mischief Over $5,000; a fifteen-year-old female for Break, Enter a Place – Commit Indictable Offence, Mischief Over $5,000, Mischief Under $5,000; and a sixteen-year-old female for two counts of Mischief Over $5,000, Fail to Comply with Conditions of Undertaking, and Break, Enter a Place – Commit an Indictable Offence.
Quill, Suggashie and a 16-year-old female were remanded into custody and will attend court in Kenora July 10, 2015. All other accused were released from custody and will attend Pikangikum Criminal Court September 2, 2015.
