Inquiry into arrest violence sent to Crown

PCC completes probe, which is now in hands of Crown prosecutors

The arrest of a Regina man that ignited concerns over police use of force is now being reviewed by Crown prosecutors.

The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) confirmed this week that it had completed its investigation into the Dec. 13, 2019 arrest of Rocky Dean Lonechild, and that the case is now in the hands of public prosecutions to determine whether charges should be laid.

The PCC is a non-police body that investigates and reviews complaints against municipal police. Its five members are appointed by the government. The results of PCC investigations are provided to the complainant, but are not made publicly available.

Regina Police Service (RPS) spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich said the police force will wait for public prosecutions to complete its review before taking any action against the officers involved in the arrest.

“It’s our understanding that the Public Complaints Commission has completed its work and turned the file over to public prosecutions for review. The Regina Police Service will be notified (typically by letter) once that review is done. We will wait until then before taking any action,” said Popowich.

Home security camera footage of Lonechild’s arrest, shows three officers chasing a man and tackling him to the ground in front of a house. Once the man is on the ground, seemingly held there by at least two of the officers, a fourth officer runs over. In motions partially obscured by a hedgerow, the officer can be seen three times swinging one bent leg back and forth toward the man on the ground.

After video of the arrest went public, Lonechild’s family came forward and demanded an independent investigation. The family said Lonechild suffered injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Speaking to reporters after the video surfaced, RPS Chief Evan Bray said officers had been dispatched early in the morning on Dec. 13 for a report of men rushing into a home with what a caller believed to be guns. The men left the scene in a vehicle.

After police stopped a suspect vehicle, four people were arrested, but one person fled on foot. Bray said those arrested told police the person who fled was high on meth.

Police eventually located and arrested the man, which was the incident caught on the security footage.

Supporters of Lonechild have accused police of misrepresenting what happened that morning.

During a news conference in January, Jessica Ashdohonk told reporters she had been hired by Lonechild and his girlfriend to drive them to get their belongings on 800 Princess Street.

Ashdohonk said no one in the vehicle was involved with a home invasion, or was in possession of guns or drugs.

In a statement read by Lonechild’s cousin, Terrance Lonechild, Rocky wrote that he ran from police because he had missed a court appearance, and wanted to turn himself in after Christmas so he could spend the holidays with his boys. mmelnychuk@postmedia.com

With files from Heather Polischuk and Jennifer Ackerman.