Family of man killed in police incident demands responsibility

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Family and friends of a man who died last month spoke out for the first time this week after an incident involving Winnipeg police, saying they are demanding accountability and demanding action from police services to address “systemic racism.”

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An emotional Brian Wood, the father of 35-year-old James Wood, said at a press conference on Friday: “We are asking the public to recognize the need for police reform to address the systemic bias and excessive use of force that affects marginalized communities.” Winnipeg, and Brian's wife, Carol, was standing next to him.

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“Losing a child is something no parent can prepare for, but losing a child to law enforcement violence only adds to the pain. It is our responsibility as grieving parents to fight for accountability.”

Brian said as they search for answers, James' family has been dealing with “tremendous grief and pain” since his death on the morning of Jan. 27 following an incident being investigated by Manitoba's Independent Investigations Unit. (IIU)

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“As parents, we're going through nightmares that no one should have to go through,” Brian said.

According to WPS, a woman called police on Jan. 27, saying she was worried about her drunken boyfriend and asked for help. She also told police she was concerned for the safety of the children who were in the suite in the 200 block of Fairlane Avenue at the time, police said.

However, shortly after that call, the same woman called back to say her boyfriend had fallen down the stairs from their second-floor suite and was trying to get back up.

Police arrived at 12:23 a.m. and found the man lying on the ground in the parking lot. The video, which has now gone viral, shows a police officer approaching the man who was lying down around 12:25 a.m. and panicking when the man confronted the police.

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The video shows three officers knocking the man to the ground and kicking one officer. The officer is then seen pulling out a baton weapon and striking the man approximately six times in the back of the leg. The video later shows the man being shocked by what appears to be a Taser.

The video shows at least five police officers lifting the then-handcuffed man, who appeared to be incapacitated at the time, and carrying his mostly limp body into a police cruiser.

The man was taken to Grace Hospital and then taken to Health Sciences Center, where he later died.

Hilda Anderson-Pearts, a relative of James Wood and a long-time indigenous rights advocate, spoke at a media conference on Friday and said she was “appalled” by what she saw on video.

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He said he and many others believe there is a need for broader reform of how police deal with potentially escalating incidents and how police and the community interact with and interact with local residents.

“This country needs the political will to make transformative changes so that as Indigenous people we don't die when we call for services or support,” Anderson said.

“Our human rights are routinely violated and not respected as indigenous people in this country. We continue to experience loss after loss, tragedy after tragedy, and our hearts continue to break.”

Anderson said he will now call for a series of measures, including legislation banning discrimination and racial profiling in the police force and new mandates requiring all police officers to use body camera technology.

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He also wants CCTV footage stored in police services, a national database to track police misconduct and more work to recruit officers from “diverse backgrounds”.

“We demand accountability from those sworn to protect and serve. The time for complacency and complacency is over,” said Anderson-Piertz.

On Friday, Chief Shirley Ducharme of Wood's O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation said police forces need more training to properly deal with tense situations and situations involving Indigenous people and communities.

“A lack of understanding, empathy and knowledge about our cultures and histories contributes to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and biases,” said Ducharme. “The training helps officers to de-escalate situations involving people in crisis situations and prevent the use of unnecessary force.

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“This is not an isolated incident; it is a deep-rooted problem that requires immediate attention and comprehensive solutions.”

On Friday, the IIU continued its investigation into the death of James Wood, an independent police officer who investigates all serious policing issues in Manitoba.

The Winnipeg San Winnipeg police were contacted Friday for a response or comment, but have yet to hear back.

— Dave Baxter is a local journalism initiative reporter based out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Indigenous Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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