Family wants answers after police kill suspect in car chase
North Battleford police cruiser rammed, officer opens fire on suspect in vehicle
Ruth Lewis had heard SASKATOON rumours that her nephew, Brydon Bryce Whitstone, had started to run with the wrong crowd as he got older.
Regardless, the people who loved the 22-year-old father of two are mourning the loss of a brother, a son and a nephew, she said.
Whitstone died on Saturday night after an incident RCMP say began at 8:55 p.m. when a man reported being chased and shot at by a man and a woman in another vehicle.
RCMP have said officers located the suspect vehicle and gave chase, but the pursuit was short-lived after the car rammed a police cruiser and became immobilized near the intersection of 15th Avenue and 105th Street in North Battleford.
An officer discharged a firearm at the vehicle, injuring an occupant, according to an RCMP news release. While life-saving measures were started, the driver, identified by police as Whitstone, died en route to hospital around 9:40 p.m.
Lewis, who has been speaking on behalf of Whitstone’s mother, said she was disheartened by some of the comments she saw on social media after his death. Despite his past, he died too young, she said.
“Irregardless of background, irregardless of lifestyle, the bottom line is a child is lost. A child is being mourned ... That’s tough as it is, and it’s even tougher when you go on Facebook and read so much negativity and speculation and accusations.”
Lewis said while she understands it may be some time before her family gets answers, the racial aspect of some comments on social media is wrong.
“It doesn’t matter what colour the person is, he’s still a child,” she said, noting she’s comforting his mother in Onion Lake. “He’s somebody’s son, somebody’s brother, somebody’s nephew ... There’s no reason for negativity or to fuel any racism, because it doesn’t matter what colour you are.”
RCMP Chief Supt. Maureen Levy, the criminal operations officer for Saskatchewan, said at a weekend news conference that the officer shot at the vehicle “in response to the driver’s actions.”
Lewis said the family has questions about the use of force and would like to know if any shots were fired at police prior to her nephew’s death, whether a weapon was recovered from the scene and what caused police to shoot.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron said he wants to see First Nations represented in the investigation, because such incidents further existing mistrust between Indigenous people and police.
“The majority of people that are incarcerated are First Nations people. Wouldn’t it make sense to have one of our own First Nations legal experts involved in all these processes?” he asked, noting he also has questions about police use of force.
On Monday, RCMP announced the second person in the vehicle, 28-year-old Amanda Wahobin, had been charged with possession of property obtained by crime in connection with Saturday’s incident. She is also charged with robbery and breaching conditions unrelated to Saturday’s incident.
Wahobin was remanded after a court appearance in North Battleford and is scheduled to appear in court again today.
Regina police have started an external investigation, which will be overseen by the Ministry of Justice.
RCMP noted in a news release that an officer suffered minor injuries in Saturday’s incident, but was treated in hospital and released.
An RCMP spokesman on Monday declined to comment on specifics of the incident while the external investigation is ongoing.
Irregardless of background, irregardless of lifestyle, the bottom line is a child is lost. A child is being mourned.