Aboriginal issues argument behind Brazeau arrest: police
Stair railing broke after push from senator, alleged victim claimed
Suspended Sen. Patrick Brazeau’s alleged assault of a woman stemmed from an argument about aboriginal affairs, according to court records.
Brazeau, 38, was arrested on the morning of Feb. 7 and later charged with assault and sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty and none of the charges has been proven in court.
According to police search warrant records for Brazeau’s Gatineau home, the complainant told police Brazeau pushed her hard enough to break a stair railing she was holding onto.
According to the warrant documents, police received a 911 call from a crying woman at 9:04 a.m. The woman hung up, but called again two minutes later. She said Brazeau had hit her, she had suffered bruises and Brazeau was holed up in a room upstairs, the documents say. She said he had pushed her on the stairs and punched her in the arms, the records show.
Police soon arrived and arrested Brazeau, who was transported to a police station, spoke to a lawyer and was put in a cell, according to the documents.
The alleged victim later told police in a videotaped interview that Brazeau had asked her to leave his house that morning during a dispute over aboriginal issues, which had started the previous night.
The aboriginal senator has been an outspoken critic of the grassroots indigenous Idle No More movement, and drew fire for disparaging comments he made about Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence after her protest fast near Parliament Hill.
The alleged victim told police Brazeau became aggressive as she asked for time to gather her things, allegedly pushing her, hitting her in the arms and ripping a bra and blouse that she was holding, according to the documents.
The alleged victim told police Brazeau grabbed one of her breasts in an aggressive way and brought down her pants, breaking the attached button and zipper, according to the documents.
She also said he put his hand around her neck and hit her in the arm with his fists.
The complainant also told police that Brazeau spat in her face and swore at her in French and English, the records say.
According to the documents, the woman said Brazeau pushed her in the stairway, breaking the railing she was holding onto.
In the warrant documents, police said they were looking for a ripped bra and blouse, as well as a pant button.
Brazeau was kicked out of the Conservative caucus hours after his arrest on Feb. 7. The nature of the details in the documents could shed some light on the Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to move quickly to expel Brazeau from his caucus.
The following week, Brazeau was officially suspended from the Senate.
While suspended, Brazeau can still collect his salary of $132,300, but will need to seek approval for further expenses from the Senate Internal Economy Committee.
Brazeau was released on Feb. 8 on $1,000 bail. He is not allowed to make any contact with the complainant. His next court appearance is March 22.
A publication ban protects the alleged victim’s identity.
Brazeau has kept a low profile since his arrest, declining to speak with reporters at the courthouse after his release, and when leaving the Senate the day of his suspension. Calls to his Senate office went unanswered on Tuesday.
But on Friday, the senator reactivated his controversial Twitter account and sent out a tweet, which said, “I’m wounded not, but I’m not slain. I’m brusied (sic) and faint they say Just let me lie and bleed awhile; I’ll not be long this way.”