Winnipeg News: Family of James Wood, who died after police action, demands transparency

A grieving family is demanding change and transparency over their relative's death after an interaction with Winnipeg police that was caught on video by several witnesses.

James Wood, 35, died Jan. 27 after police were called to a domestic incident at an apartment complex on Fairlane Avenue in the city's Crestview neighborhood.

Wood's family spoke out for the first time since the incident, calling for change and sharing their grief.

“It's so hard to lose someone in this way. It shouldn't happen,” James' mother, Carol Wood, said. “They don't need what they did to my son.”

Police Chief Danny Smith said at a news conference on January 28 that a woman called to say her boyfriend was drunk and she feared for the safety of her children. She said several officers later responded to the scene when she fell down the stairs from a second-floor suite and was on the ground.

Several witnesses recorded the incident and said the police used excessive force during the arrest, including the use of batons. Smith said Wood was unresponsive as police took him to a car, where he was later pronounced dead.

“Watching the footage was devastating, it's something that's etched in our brains forever,” said Hilda Anderson-Pryce, a family spokeswoman.

Wood's family and community leaders are calling for change and transparency in the way law enforcement interacts with the local community. They declined to give more details about what happened that night while they are consulting with an attorney.

“We want the truth to be revealed and we want a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding our son's death,” said Brian Wood, James' father.

“Without accountability structures and systems in place, this violence will continue and Indigenous people will continue to witness it,” Anderson-Pryce said.

Speakers at the event called for cultural competency training, the use of body cameras and police use of de-escalation techniques.

They also asked for the creation of an independent monitoring body – separate from the existing IIU – headed by a local representative.

“This is not an individual incident. This is a deep-rooted problem that requires immediate attention and a comprehensive solution,” said Chief Shirley Ducharme of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation.

In a statement, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said his department recognizes the family's grief and has a number of initiatives in place to directly address the issues raised.

“The department is working to finalize the first phase of police standards, which includes standards for high-risk investigations such as missing persons and death investigations,” Wiebe said. “This is a first for Manitoba and these standards apply to all police agencies. We are looking at ways to standardize and improve police training, including best practices for de-escalation training and cultural competencies.”

Wiebe Manitoba Justice has hired a new director of Indigenous and community relations aimed at increasing the transparency of IIU investigations.

The family is holding a public memorial for Woods on Friday evening and multiple events in northern Manitoba in the coming days.