Charges dropped against Alberta First Nations chief in violent arrest
Posted June 24, 2020 10:18 am.
Last Updated June 24, 2020 7:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
FORT MCMURRAY – Charges have been dropped against a prominent northern Alberta First Nations chief who was the subject of a violent arrest earlier this year.
Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation says he and his wife knew he didn’t do anything wrong to be charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
His case was in front of a Fort McMurray provincial court judge Wednesday, where the Crown withdrew the charges.
The move comes after the RCMP dash-cam footage of Adam’s arrest was made public earlier this month.
WATCH: Video shows RCMP tackling, punching Alberta chief during arrest
(WARNING: Contains language and disturbing content)
The 12-minute video shows Adam, who was stopped for an expired plate, walking back and forth between his truck and an RCMP cruiser, shouting profanities at an officer.
Another Mountie then charges at Adam, tackling him to the ground and punching him in the head.
The RCMP initially stated that the officers’ actions were reasonable, while the province’s police watchdog has since said it is investigating the arrest.
