B.C. band furious over pepper spray incident

I'm with the RCMP on this one and for good reason. Did they go to far?...heck no! They were well within their rights to handle the situation as they did.

It is unfortuanate that 2 small children were involved, but shame on the parents for creating the situation in the first place.

The fine community of Sechelt should be embarrassed by the actions of these few ignorant people. What's even more pitiful, is they (supposed victims) are now playing the "race" card to plead their case....you have got to be kidding me?!

It seems in this day and age, that fewer and fewer people have respect for the law and more importantly to the police officers whose job it is to impose the laws. When they (RCMP) do enforce the law as they did in Sechelt, they get crapped on by the community and the media.

I feel for the RCMP on this one.

It is not a racial incident every time the police attempt to enforce the law, even when trying to protect the public from themselves.

Those who try and create a racial atmosphere out of every incident are only fostering and preserving their own racism.

Yes, the land was taken from us, but we cannot resolve these issues by being suspicious of all authority figures. We must work with the RCMP - join them, you'll like it!

The RCMP acted the fool in this event by not using their common sense and writing this off as the kind of celebratory jubilation that is a part of the culture of Soccer. Imagine - people overcome with joy at a victory, riding in the back of a truck! Heavens no! Maybe it was the sight of Native people celebrating a victory that got the RCMP so concerned to begin with?

10 people in the back of a truck is dangerous, absolutely... but if that had happened in a similar context in Oak Bay (an upscale Victoria municipality) the police would have laughed it off as fans blowing off steam, as they should have here. This is a clear case of the police not knowing when to err on the side of freedom and use their discretion, ruining what should have been a glorious victory with authoritarian BS.

I understand the police feeling that they were threatened once they tried to make arrests - but they have only themslves to blame for putting themselves in that situation.

I am not a member of the Shishalh Nation but have had the pleasure of a personal and professional relationship with the community for many years.

My son has played soccer in many tournament with kids from the band some of whom were sprayed last night. My son and I have also taken part in past honking celebrations similar to the one which was brutally disrupted by the RCMP.

There is no excuse for the actions of the RCMP particularly attacks on fine individuals such as young Trevor Julius. The only solution to this situation is for the RCMP to get down on their knees and beg for forgiveness before another sad chapter is added to their already sorry story.

To those people who have been harping about the non-lethality of Pepper Spray... how about you go seek out one of your relatives preferably a child under the age of two and spray a nice healthy dose in their face... then talk to me about non-lethality of Pepper Spray or appropriate use of force.

I think it was simply a case of police officers misjudging the situation and consequently losing control. A very scary thing for the officers I'm sure but this wil get the force a lot of bad press and ultimately the only victims here are the people who got pepper sprayed.

I think this was a job well done by the police in the area. They did what was reasonable to stop a situation.

There's nothing wrong with a party and celebration. However, when it gets to the point of causing a disturbance and endangering public safety, then the police have to intervene.

Not stopping for the police is illegal. Plain and simple. It is in EVERY province across Canada. The police did what was necessary to stop the vehicle and then proceed with arrests.

The mother is STUPID for stepping into a heated situation with a baby. Not the wisest decision I've ever seen made by a parent.

Unfortunately, as tensions are already high between aboriginals and the police, this situation will just result in endless hours of investigation in order to decide whether or not the police officer was right or wrong in his actions. Unfortunately again, due to the political nature of this battle, he will likely be wrong.

I say it was a job well done by our boys in blue.

For all the ignorant people here.. please read:
-Failing to stop for police is an arrestable offence in Canada;
-If you ever do not listen to directions given by a police officer, expect force to be used;
-Police use of force is dictated by a use of force model. Advancing towards a police officer can fall onto 'Combative Behaviour'. Justified force for this is empty hand hard, impact weapons (defensive baton), intermediate devices (OC Spray, conducted energy weapon).
-Out of the above use of force options OC spray is the lowest for that situation;
-Blame the horrible mother of that baby for bringing a child into that situation;
-If you don't like the police for doing this, stop calling them to solve your petty problems.

Regards.

Of course the RCMP did the right thing! They were being mobbed, and were being obstructed from doing their duty. What amazes me is that no one asking why the mother did a VERY stupid thing, which is endanger her infant's life by engaging in the fracas! If you are not smart enough to take your children to safety in such a situation, then at least take responsibility, by publicly (i.e., via the media) admitting your error when being interviewed later.

The other question no one seems to be asking is why these people seem to think that it is acceptable to drive around with pickups whose beds are full of people. Would they have blamed the government for not educating them enough about road safety had one fallen out and been injured? When will we stop applying one set of laws to normal Canadians another to these peoples?

One rule for all? When, when, WHEN has that ever been the case regarding aboriginal peoples in this land?

I think more Canadians need education about the condition of aboriginal peoples in Canada, how and why aboriginal communities are at the point they are, and how and why the government should be helping these people.

Indeed rule of law should be respected. Then why is it so hard to live up to the government's part of the treaty agreements, among other issues? Why expect aboriginal people to respect Canadian laws and law enforcers if there is no fair play? To date, suppression, oppression, assimilation and cultural genocide have been all the government of Canada has provided to aboriginal peoples.

Like the old saying goes "With friends like that, who needs enemies?" Without fairly dealing with aboriginal peoples and the issues stemming from government treatment of these communities through the years, Canada has not a leg to stand on in the international community, something that Vladimir Putin pointed out recently. When Steven Harper tries to spank Russia on human rights abuses, it seems a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.

Police racism against aboriginals isn't a fairy tale, it's a well-documented reality. Here is another case of the police using force against aboriginals when it wasn't necessary. I'm sure if this had happened in downtown Toronto to rich white yuppies, it would be all over the news, and all these knee-jerk reactionary conservatives leaving messages would be outraged.

Some people are quite confused here.

Important to note (Ruralbyte) that OC (Oleoresin Capsicum - aka Pepper) spray is NOT lethal force anywhere in the world. It is considered an intermediate device which on just about every response options model is around three steps below lethal force and comes just after soft empty hand control.

So please - make your points, but let's try to keep it real at the same time, ok?

Truth is that Police use OC spray because, although it is a severe irritant, it is less damaging to a person than empty hand techniques like stuns and strikes.

As an interesting aside, many natives have a natural resistance to the effects of OC spray - the only group known to have such resistance.

To Chris,

Yes I do know that on the east coast the RCMP has taken over community policing...seeing I am from the east coast. Instead of aboriginal, we have here large black communities. I do know that if one of their teams were celebrating, that the RCMP would not have dared to use the tactics they did in BC. The entire community black, white and purple would have condemned it. They would have most likely joined the parade.

And yes Chris, since you need to lecture someone, they do have jurisdiction everywhere. But as a national paramilitary police force they have an obligation to show a little restraint and perhaps something called good judgment and common sense.

To all the self-righteous folks that drone on about laws being broken for riding in the back of a pickup truck get a life! I fully expect to have everyone arrested that does the same thing during the next Grey Cup celebrations.

To be succinct,

The officers probably were using appropriate force with regards to the apprehended. Pepper spay can be a legitimate response to resistance, and a isolation of the law was occurring. In hindsight, discretion would have been preferable .

However, it also seems clear to me that force was utilized in a manner that was inappropriate. A mother carrying a child isn't really a threat, and officers are supposed to know who they're using force on before using it. The article says fifteen people had to be treated, notably including another child.

I expect more information to be forthcoming on specifics.

10 people riding in the back of a pick-up is against the law regardless of your ethnic background. Perhaps the RCMP could have used a bit more discretion I will agree on that one point, however generally speaking they acted appropriately.

If it was non-natives that were riding in the back of a pick-up and resisted arrest under the same circumstances, they too would have been pepper sprayed and arrested. I feel very bad for the baby that got pepper sprayed especially, as children rely solely on their parents to “do the right thing”. I realize the women was defending her husband but she put her baby in a bad situation and she should have known better. The RCMP officer that sprayed her I’m sure had no intention of spraying a baby of any ethnic background. The mother was at fault in this situation for putting her child in danger.

Yes, more understanding of native culture is needed by all (including the RCMP).

As a proud member of the shishalh Nation, I am horrified at how the RCMP handled this situation. Our soccer teams have been celebrating in this fashion since the 1960's and the police have escorted and participated in our parade through the reserves with the kids in the backs of trucks(going at a maximum of 15 km/hour).

With only 100 feet left to go of our procession the police came speeding down the road and almost hit innocent bystanders in the process. Where was their concern for their safety? The RCMP will use any excuse they can to target the First Nations people.

This police brutality needs to stop. What ever happened to "serve and protect". It's not protecting when innocent children are being pepper-sprayed and traumatized. And when I hear people saying that we are "All Canadian and should be under one rule of law" we never asked to be a part of Canada; we were forced.

Note to the RCMP. If you want to make a crowd of people hostile towards your officers, pepper spray a baby.

I have lived on the Sunshine Coast for 15 years, and have attended many soccer games and celebrations with my son over these years. When the Sechelt Nation wins, it's a huge event, a celebration and a huge amount of fun, everyone from babies to grandmothers attends.

Yes, there is a lot of honking and noise. But if the RCMP can't tell that this is a good thing going on, a community celebration, they must be blind. The truck with the kids in the back was travelling at less than walking speed on private property, not a public road.

Sure, maybe not the smartest idea, but no more dangerous than a parade float that has people standing on it. All day long I've been listening to the case of Ian Bush being killed by equally zealous RCMP in Houston, B.C., and I feel grief for everyone involved. Where are we getting these rambo police from?

What happened to the tradition of the police being the ones you turn to for help? I want the RCMP to be part of the community, not a threat. I feel very sad for the Sechelt Nation today.

First the not so favourable comment - on the face of it the officer in question needs to go back to Regina and take a refresher course. I've seen many competant officers diffuse such situations, rather than participate in escalating them.

Also, it is completely understandable that first nations' people are suspicious of police activity and a competent officer knows this. I am a white person who grew up in one of those places where the police was your friend. Then I lived two years on a reserve in Manitoba and saw the other side. Good RCMP officers know human & cultural relations issues, precisely so that these sorts of things DON'T get out of hand.

So it's back to Regina for him for a refresher - there are too many good cops out there for this guy to ruin a good reputation.

Second - favourable to the police, first nations' legitimate gripes notwithstanding. When a cop is arresting someone for ANY reason, you don't go up and demand that the cop unarrest the guy - for any reason. The cops' job, rightly or wrongly, is not to debate the issue. The woman who approached the cop with baby in hand is the one I hold accountable for the pepper spray headed the baby's way, not the cop. She was the one who put the kid in harm's way, thinking she could talk her spouse out of the handcuffs, even if the cops had overreacted.

What was she thinking? As long as habeas corpus is still in effect, let the judge sort it out in the morning. Then in the days and weeks to come, let the lawyers and cooler heads rack up billing hours.

It is simply stupid to interfere with even a bad cop who has overreacted and needs a refresher course. Don't become part of the mob, nor do ANYTHING that can be remotely confused for inciting the mob.

The Sechelt Band and the local RCMP are both smart and this will be worked out. The overreacting officer, though, will probably be sent on a tour of duty to Alert.

I am trying to look at it from the eyes of the RCMP,

There is a truck with an open bed that is full of kids, for the sake of the safety of the kids I would stop the truck and at least speak to the driver, maybe offer to escort the "parade" for the sake of being able to maintain speed and as such safety.

When I turn on my cherries to pull over the truck, and he "disregards" my calls to pull over, now I start to wonder why? Is the drive trying to hide something? could they be intoxicated? an as such trying to avoid stopping for me? If that is the safe those children are in real danger.

If the driver then forces me to push his car to the side or to stop in front of him, then opts to resist arrest,

I really fail to see this as a "race" issue, as I think that had this happened to a family from Oakville with the same results this wouldn't have been news because it would have been chalked up to the drivers stupidity.

He was clearly breaking the law, and then was foolish enough to attempt to evade police with children unsecured in the back of his truck, and then resists police? I just can't take the side of the Aboriginals on this one.

Troy Myers acted in poor judgment,

Failure to comply w/ law enforcement demands use of force. How much or how little is unique to any situation. Pepper spray is the most effective, and for the most part, non lethal, "use of force" available to law enforcement.

When a group of 50-75 people engage 2-4 officers, there is an issue of officer safety that is not negotiable. If a woman carries a baby into an angry crowd of people who are engaging police in a confrontational manner, is she not endangering that child?

No parent should encourage children to flaunt the law, much less endanger their children in the face of the law.
Police are legally obliged to "parent" the children of those whose parents are too ignorant to scrutinse their own actions as adults.

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast (of which Sechelt is a part), and I am so appalled by the actions of the Sechelt RCMP. All summer, every summer, there are numerous festivals and outdoor events up and down the Coast that tend to get far more raucous than a group of victorious soccer players could possibly be. In my experience, the police never seem to use terribly much force in dealing with any situations that arise at these times.

While I don't understand what prompted such an abrupt change in the RCMP's behaviour, I am most definitely sickened by it, and I can't help wondering what will be in store for Coasters at the various summer festivities this year.

I think there would be serious issues I would have with the RCMP for NOT stopping a pick-up full of children in the back.

The fact that the gentleman refused to stop for police to a point where the truck needed to be forcibly pulled over, and then that driver resisted arrest simply makes this case cut and dry.

I don't care what his nationality or ethnic background, had ANYONE been so stupid as to put children in danger and force the RCMP to forcibly pull you over after simply ignoring a request to stop and then resisting arrest and NOT be arrested or restrained would cause me to have less faith in our police,

He broke the law THREE different times over the course of five minutes, and we are calling him the victim?

Only in Canada.

Are you *sure* about that Dan, or is this just more emotionally satisfying hand-wringing? Did you know that, at least on the east coast, the RCMP has taken over local policing in many communities? And now correct me if I'm wrong, but as a federal agency doesn't the RCMP have jurisdiction everywhere in Canada?

By the way some police officers work patrols, others work investigations into weapon smuggling etc. Teachers might have the most important job in a school but someone has to wash the floor.

And lethal force? Pepper spray? Where pray tell in the world is pepper spray considered lethal? Maybe if they set it on fire first.

The police must not have known that the people were natives. Natives are the only people in Canada who are above the law. How dare the RCMP take action against lawbreakers who happen to be native. This is Canada and we have two distinct set of laws!

The town was celebrating two sports teams victory for heaven's sake. If the RCMP actually had village constables, instead of shuffled-in imports, they would have escorted the entry parade at a safe speed, cautioned the truck riders about their unsafe practice, used their siren to join the celebration and warn the residents, taken the entire parade to the soccer fields, and used their P.A. system for congratulatory announcements by the Mayor, the League Officials, and the Coaches, and SERVED THE COMMUNITY.

Pepper spray use is considered deadly force in most jurisdictions and is inappropriate for a community victory parade.

But no these were aboriginals...they must be drunk. Call it racism, call it racial profiling, whatever. Either way the RCMP overreacted, and never should have been there in the first place. What sort of macho man pepper sprays a woman and child. If this officer was really scared then he needs to find another career. Pathetic.

We have witnesses that refuse to testify at the Air India inquiry because they fear their safety. We have our communities from east to west riddled crack houses that operate with impunity. We have thousands of American guns flooding our cities. Yet our National police force has nothing better to do then hassle a soccer communities' celebrations. Will the incompetence and unprofessionalism of the RCMP ever cease?

Why I will not roll down my window for a cop, except to slide my license out:

RIP: Howard Fleury, Keldon McMillan, Neil Stonechild, Dudley George, Melvin Wayne Bigsky, Rodney Naistus, Kyle Young, Lawrence Wagner and J.J. Harper to just name a few of our lost souls (allegedly in some cases) at the hands or actions of so-called cops.

Laws for everyone, huh? The JustUS system is not working for everyone equally.

There is a very serious ongoing problem in Canada that would even make the deep south blush at the ferocity of hate swilling in Canada at times.

Yes, riding in the back of a half-ton is against the HTA, but this cop action is symptom of something far more sick and cynical.

And yes I have seen and lived in the real world of violence, the nightly insanity and the case files that pile up, but the use of force by officers must be scrutinized under a micrscope by an independent body. Becoming that which one is supposed to be protection from is not justice.

Like it or not race is an issue considering the frequency of interactions. Perhaps it is time to start pepper spraying all hockey fans too on the Red Mile in Calgary and the Blue mile in Edmonton considering the absolute mayhem, destruction and disruption of the public peace that those "celebrations" caused.

Rule of law, my ass.

Equal law? Not in Canada - never been that way in protecting Indigenous peoples.

I think it does make a difference.

After team Canada won the 2004 World Cup of Hockey there were people riding in the back of pick-up trucks, and one poor sod fell head over heels out the back when the driver sped up just a touch, right on Yonge street. Broken Arm, Broken Collar bone, and lost seven teeth on the way out.

The Police was criticized for "not taking firmer action"

You are damned if you do and you are damned if you don't.

The ONLY facts that matter here are:

A) He was breaking the law, as carrying passengers in the back of a pick-up is illegal and dangerous

B) He RESISTED Arrest, and the truck had to be FORCIBLY be pulled over.

The RCMP tried to stop the vehicle because of the safety issue, Troy Myers REFUSED to pull over or stop, then was foolish enough to resist arrest?

What sort of parent, keeps driving and tries to avoid RCMP patrol cars with 10 children in the backseat????

The fact that he was pepper sprayed was justified, as I would suspect anyone regardless of race to get the same treatment for such a collection of foolish acts.

Other John,
Its very easy for us to be "back seat" RCMP officers, How was the husband resisting arrest? Was he being violent? how was the crowd reacting? Did it seem hostile?

At the end of the day, if someone comes running up behind you while you are in the process of making an arrest do you really want to run the risk of them having a weapon? She watched her husband resist arrest, and then had the lack of judgment and ran toward RCMP officers that were dispensing Pepper Spray.

Its amazing you use the word "Victim", this guy was illegally carrying 10 people in the back of a pick-up truck, and THEN resisted arrest?

I'll just highlight the important part of the story for all those who just want to jump on the anti-police bandwagon. I know it's more emotionally satisfying to complain about those evil government people, but it isn't very rational either.

"Shannon Phillips said she was carrying her baby and tried to intervene"

Full stop. The outrage is not over the fact that the police stopped this guy and were in the process of arresting him. No, the outrage is over "innocents" getting hit with pepper spray.

Newflash people, when the police are arresting someone you keep your distance! Doesn't matter if it's your husband, daughter or identical twin. Intervening in an arrest is against the law, and will force the police to react. You can't use a child as a magic shield to change that.

Crowding around officers in the middle of an arrest creates the threat of a mob situation. This apparently happened, because other people were close enough to be hit by the pepper spray.

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I'm around some guy who is carrying a gun I try really hard to make sure he doesn't feel threatened by me.

I really have to wonder if the RCMP could've "won" in this situation. I am orignally from a very small community so I have engaged in "back of the truck" celebrations. I'm sure the vehicle was traveling very slowly as my impression is that is was a sorta makeshift parade.

However, it does not change the fact that it IS illegal and there is potential for injury. If the RCMP had turned their cheek and the "worst case scenario" should have happened I don't dare speculate on the consequences for those officers.

They were simply doing their job, they are paid to uphold the law regardless of Race, Gender or Creed.

I believe that the police have many "discretionary" powers that could be used in a situation like this. Unfortunately, they did not exercise that discretion.

We have all heard of situations where police have "backed off" and observed, rather than confronted alleged lawbreakers. For example, auto-theft chases come to mind. And how often do police use "discretionary" powers when issuing a 24 hour roadside suspension, or a warning, instead of a criminal charge of impaired driving.

The above examples, in my opinion, are far more serious than the "moving violation" mentioned in the article. Why can the police not use "discretion" in a case like this, when they do so often in other cases, most of which involve non-natives? (Oops, guess that last question kinda answers itself.)

And I have no intention of giving anyone the satisfaction of knowing whether I am native or non-native.

I can't believe the people rushing to blame the victims here.

What kind of parent rushes toward police using pepper spray? The kind whose husband was just sprayed and is writhing on the ground screaming. The kind who wants to see if he's OK. The kind who might not suspect that she would be the next target.

In retrospect, it was not the best reaction, but neither was that of the police. And which of the two is trained to deal with these situations?

You know on TV when police are doing firearms training and those cutouts of people pop out without warning? You aren't supposed to shoot the mom with the baby in her arms.

A year ago I had the good opportunity to watch the World Cup events here in Ottawa. when Italy won the Cup, people were driving up and down Preston avenue in clear violation of many traffic safety laws. Not a single on was pepper-sprayed and I can't recall too many fines. Why? Because the officers reacted with restraint and proportionality.

We don't have the full story of what happened in BC. Were the folks in the trucks in the wrong? absolutely. But what were the RCMP officers thinking? Their actions directly placed more people in jeopardy, and children included. This is contrary to all their training.

But more importantly, to me at any rate, is not what the story contains but the reactions of people on this site. I am thoroughly and completely disgusted by the bigotry displayed in many of the comments on this page (especially you, Nancy).

Why is it that any issue with First Nations people immediately devolves into slander and racism? How dare Canadians (myself included) lord ourselves over others (especially our neighbours to the south) by saying how tolerant we are? When the majority of posts on this page are virulently racist, we simply don't have a leg to stand on.

In reply to Aaron of Vancouver who writes

John from Toronto has taken an ardent pro-police perspective,.... ... John, if you're that worried about police safety, tell your son or daughter to find a new job; I hear Safeway's hiring.

Fist Aron let me say that even though I can respect you for having the courage to express your oppinion on this matter I do not agree with any of the statements you made. It's clear that you do not agree with me as well so I hope we can agree to disagree on this

Second I work in law enforcement my self so I speak as an "insider" when I state categorically that that no L.E.O. (law enforcement officer) goes on duty looking for a fight. Quite the opposite in fact many of my closest friends are in law enforcement and I know that nothing would make them happier than to be able to put down "nothing to report" on their duty log at the end of their shift. Sadly this is not the case.

LEO's are forced to use the minimum force necessary to protect the greater good for the majority of people and if some one has to get slightly roughed up as a result of it, that is regreatable but unavoidable.

I pray for the day when police forces world wide are no longer required as law breakers have become a thing of the distant past. Then we would truly have a paradise on earth

Third I stand by my final statement that unless you or anyone who is quick to jump on the "police brutality" bandwagon are willing to pin on a badge and get your hands dirty along side fellow officers "BACK OFF, OBEY THE LAW, LET THE POLICE DO THEIR JOBS" & you won't have any trouble with them.

It is important for people to remember that the CBC has not yet given us the full story. It is sad to see comments like those of Dianne and Fred. Maybe you need to go on a ride along with your local police force and see what goes on in the real world.

Dianne, when you make comments like 'barn burners' and that the RCMP are all racists, you too are generalizing.

Have you personally met every police officer in Canada to come up with that conclusion? There are bad people in EVERY profession that slip through the cracks. However, we can not yet start asking for people to be charged or fired when we dont fully know what has happened.

I doubt the police intentionally sprayed the children. So thats let cooler heads prevail and gather the information necessary to make an informed conclusion....which is a luxury police often don't have when they need to make split second decisions!

Youth Soccer Tournament was held in Vancouver in which the Sechelt Band has been in organized soccer for over 30yrs, and are very talented.

This year like many in the past, the Sechelt youth won the tournament with(Native) pride. They traveled back 4hrs to to Sechelt through the City of Vancouver, across a main bridge onto the #1 Hwy, waited and crossed on a BC Ferry, and then drove 45mins to their small community Sechelt and on entering their OWN BACKYARD began honking and celebrating.

(Yaz gotta ask your self, does this not happen in Non-Native ways!) It's probably fair to say these RCMP officers did not participate in the "Pulling Together Journey",which came out of a 1997 project called Vision Quest, an RCMP and Coast Salish partnership to re-build positive relationships between police and First Nations, www.pullingtogether.ca.

One of very many postive ways to educate and build healthy relationships with First Nation people. Hands up to the SECHELT BAND YOUTH!!

Comments like "were these kids threatening to throw a soother" and "was the woman going to assault the cop with her baby" are simply stupid and ill-informed.

Furthermore they make no attempt whatsoever in understanding either side of the issue - probably because that level of comprehension is beyond the people making those kinds of comments.

I agree it is very sad that this celebration had to end this way. I am also very happy to hear posts like the lady who spoke of those kids being involved in playing soccer instead of allowing their lives to be ruined by drugs and alcohol.

I think this incident is an example of poor relations in general between police and native people. But the question doesn't really ask about the underlying sociological issues. It asks if the police went too far. The answer to that must inevitably be no - they were attempting to deal with a situation that endangered the lives and well-being of the kids in that truck and instead of compliance they met with resistance.

John from Toronto has taken an ardent pro-police perspective, which he represents as more rational than most other posts. I don't believe this is the case.

I acknowledge that the nature of police work is dangerous and I believe so do most of us who voice criticism of particular police actions. Further, most of us have a great appreciation for the service they provide.

The fact that police work is inherently dangerous is not sufficient justification for incidents of this order. In ethical debates, the fundamental principal of proportionality is critical to seeing that justice is served.

Quite conversely, knowing of the dangers they may face in advance, all police officers bear a special burden in that they are required and even expected to react in a measured, controlled fashion, no matter the danger they face.

Further, the argument that harmful actions such as the disproportionate use of pepper spray can be justified because police "are only human and put their pants on one leg at a time like everyone else" is both offensive and laughable.

The most damaging of all John's comments, however, is the statement that the very action of raising one's voice in protest is hypocritical. This is precisely the sort of radical right-wing dogmatism that supports a state tolerant of only one way of thinking.

John, if you're that worried about police safety, tell your son or daughter to find a new job; I hear Safeway's hiring.

Ian,
If a person is lunging toward RCMP officers, and that person is careless enough to be holding an infant child, there has to be some accountability taken by the mother and her total disregard for her child's safety.

The RCMP did not seek out children, if there was a group of people approaching the RCMP in a hostile way they have the right to protect themselves, and what sort of parent runs toward RCMP officers who are using pepper spray in the first place???

There is good portion of important information missing from this story,

Although as it was pointed out, anyone would have been stopped for driving with ten people in the bed of a pickup truck, its unsafe and its especially unsafe when you have ten children in the bed of a pickup.

One bump, and you could have a major injury.

The gentleman was stopped with cause, there is no doubt about that, but to make matters worse he resisted arrest?

Give me a break,

I am so tired of people breaking the law, then doing something as stupid as resisting arrest and then complaining as a result of the consequences?

Next time, don't drive with ten people in the back of your pickup and don't resist arrest when you are clearly breaking the law.

Why is it always "big brothers" fault when people put themselves into situations like this?

I for one am sick and tired of being called racist for disagreeing with aboriginals ( I will not call you First Nations until you stop refering to everyone who is non-native as White-Man).

Sometimes we just do not agree with you and that does not make us ignorant or racist. Do you always have to make sure that when you celebrate something that everyone else has to know about it(driving around in your pick-up truck full of kids without seatbelts, honking your horns).

Maybe when the police try to stop you from disrupting the public you should listen and do what they tell you. The rest of us do and that is why we are able to stay out of jail.

One law for everyone, period.

I can not believe that some people are actually defending officers who pepper sparayed children. What were they going to throw their soother at the police. An arguement could be posed for dealing with the adults this way but children... really people.

The police may have been justified in doing some of the things that happened here.. but pepper spraying children... somebody will soon be demoted to mall security or at least should be.

If the police did nothing and the truck had to suddenly brake for whatever reason, and some people fell off and hurt themselves, then the police would be blamed for not doing anything.

They broke the law, so tough, deal with the consequences!

It's time the aboriginal people of this country realize they also have to follow the rules that every other Canadian must follow.

This incident in BC shows once again that some feel they don't need to follow the rules and obay those who are in positions of authority.

I highly doubt the RCMP just decided to start pepper spraying individuals for nothing they obviously must have felt threatened by the situtation. The same result would have occurred if the people involved were white, black, asian or aboriginal, if someone interfers with a police officer while they are conducting their duties and especially in such a manner that this female admits that she did and the officer feels threatened the response from the police would be the same.

I say this to those aboriginals involved, grow up and take responsiblity for your actions. You want to be treated like eveyone else............you are now.

There have been too many situations where Police officers have used too much force! And they are armed with all the artillary at their disposal! Sprays, batons, pistols, automatic weapons, armoured carriers and other paraphenalia.

Yet they come on strong with all kinds of backup and seldom listen to the unarmed people they are supposed to protect! Macho or what!

This is truly a police state! Stay out of Tim Hortons and Robins donuts and patrol for real criminals! Oh, there are a few good ones out there! Some even treat it like a job with all the risks that go with a risky job!!!

If they can't behave properly, then find a different job!

Big deal. I support the police use of pepper spray; it's non-toxic, temporary, and leaves no permanent effects other than a bruised ego.

The only people who make a big deal out of pepper spray are people who have a political axe to grind, who are trying to score points against the authorities with the public (most of whom wrongly assume pepper spray is much worse than it actually is).

I'm with the RCMP on this one.

I doubt they sprayed the kids cuz they like to make kids cry

I doubt they sprayed those people cuz they wanted to escalate the situation

I doubt the RCMP went home and bragged how they sprayed a bunch of natives

I doubt the RCMP went back to detachment and celebrated hurting people

I bet the RCMP wish the natives would have listened and complied instead of threaten

I doubt the RCMP are looking forward to creating a police state

I doubt the RCMP went to work that morning looking for a confrontation

I hope God protects our RCMP (and other cops looking out for us)

Show them some respect, folks, and you will get respect yourself!

Too little information provided and too many shady areas of “fact”. Our society works on the principle that we appoint a few of us (law enforcement) to make decisions for us during times of stress - to the best of their abilities.

The end result of this incident is that some people are upset. A 42 year old is in jail facing numerous charges.

What if the RCMP had acted differently and the end result was that children and others critically injured or killed because the RCMP “stood by and allowed them to break the law” then where would the fingers be pointing to-day?

Sounds like the people on both sides of this story did not use their heads and to side with one side while criticizing the other just goes to show how naïve people are in this “we are all victims of life” society we’ve let ourselves become.

Since when is it smart to resist the police? You will never win when you resist them. But on the other hand, it should be no secret that some (not all) cops have an attitude and may use force where force is not needed because of their power trips.

We all need to be responsible for our actions out there, we need to think first before we act and we need to stop thinking of ourselves as victims. Whoever told you that life would be easy was clearly lying to you.

My community, plus probably every other community does the same thing. To be stopped on the reserve, driving with kids in the back has gone far. They are kids celebrating, their hard playing all weekend.

It takes just a little bit of prejudice to over react. They did not have to pepper spray, and to do it in front of the kids, especially the smaller kids. I beleive in what the one elder said, its gonna be back to square one on this one, the RCMP are going to have to rebuild the relationship on this one.

For the one in custody, it takes alot to take a group of kids for the weekend away from home train them, work them to earn their win. I hold my hands up to him for dedicating his time to leading the youth down the right path.

It is pretty clear from the reactions here that this topic continues to hit a nerve with both native and non-native people.

I have seen reference to legality, brutality, atrocity from both sides of this argument. Hyperbole aside, these issues will not go away until there are final settlements on all land claim and similar issues.

Let me point out one vitally important, but conveniently overlooked fact. Any settlement reached will not sastisfy everybody, native or non-native. However in a rule governed society, once a decision is made it must be respected. This goes for the treaties signed in the past, and agreements made today.

Native and non-natives can not simply claim that the agreements do not reflect their views and act in any manner they feel will further their cause.

As for this article, too few facts to draw informed opinions on, though that has stopped few from trying. I ask however, would you approach a police officer, with your infant in your arms, while he was pepper spraying? I most certainly would not.

Scott Falby,

I disagree with your first comment but do agree with your last. This was not a cowardly act on the side of the police. From the footage I saw the police did not "intentionally" pepper spray a mother and her young child.

This mother, with her child in her arms "intentionally" ran up to vehicle and got involved in the incident. So did many others. The police were simply trying to do their job and if others got pepper sprayed in the process then so be it.

I blame the mother of that child and all the other parents that did not do what a parent should do. Stand back and let the arrest happen. Then investigate it.

We simply cannot live in a society where crowds of people (of any race) should interfere with police business. Stand back and take your movies and pictures of the incident and let the judge decide!

I can not believe what I am reading from people all across Canada ,it is sad to me that people can not see the BIG picture here , something happen GOOD in this community and not only for the children but the parents and Elders .

They were NOT hurting anyone ...they were celebrating!! They were not drunk...They just WON a soccer game!! It is sad to me to sit and read all the comments , I still can not believe that people are still so racist against aboriginal peoples , if this was you and your family your thought would be a lot different on this situation.

The RCMP should have not been there in the first place but the fact they were there BUT they could have handled it better …..Why didn’t they? Because it was the NATIVES …nobody cares…we are just always drunk and we will end up in jail anyways ….give you head a shake!!

It is sad to me that my children have to go to school with your children!
SAD that the RCMP could not support a simple celebration for children, native or not!! Shame on you!!

It would seem to be that the RCMP may have overreacted from what the article implies.

I can't imagine that an officer's life was in danger from a woman carrying a baby.

And people wonder why Aboriginals don't trust the RCMP and other law authorities.

By the way, for a few of you here, especially Nancy and Patrick - please, please think before you post such tripe on this list. You both look like a couple of racist idiots and we could well do without foolishness like this.

I will always give the cops the benefit of the doubt. I'd like to see the video (apparently there were several recorded) to see if they're getting a bad rap.

If these folks were riding in the back of a pick up were to have crashed and the police had not done anything to stop then I wonder how long it would take to file the first lawsuit. I also don't understand why, when someone is being arrested, others have to interfere.

Finally, this article makes it sound like driving through the streets honking horns is some ancient aboriginal tradition on par with building totem poles and performing dance rituals. I think "tradition" is being used very loosely.

I've seen many situations where a group of natives generates a kind of us versus them mentality. From the sound of it that's what happened here, the "bystanders" who were sprayed were trying to intervene and protect "their own" from the cops. I've even seen video clips of white teenagers doing this, so it isn't unique to native communities.

People need to realize that an order from a peace officer is fully lawful and must be obeyed. If they had no right do make the order or did something improper you can challenge them...in court. Any other way of challenging them will be painful.

I'm noticing a huge trend lately where people think that they can just ignore orders from the police if they disagree. It just doesn't work that way.

While on duty officers embody the lawful power of the government. You'd have to be pretty dumb to stick around where that authority is being challeneged. Even worse bringing your kids closer to a situation where any person carrying both lethal and non-lethal weapons might feel threatened.

I was not there so I can not comment on the facts of the incident and why the RCMP thought there was a need to bring out the pepper spray but I do think the RCMP did go too far when it comes to the fact that children were pepper sprayed and that such an incident happened when the community was merely trying to celebrate victories in a youth soccer tournament.

I would just like to thank Nancy for her comment about 10 drunken Natives in the back of a pick up truck. It is comments like these that make me proud of who I am as a First Nations person who has been brought up by two very respectable parents who have given me the knowledge and respect to not let racist comments like yours affect our family; those comments help me to teach my children to beware that ignorance and racism stills exists after all these years.

My two teenage boys were in the back of that truck celebrating their victory in an All-Native youth tournament that was held at UBC. I am proud of my boys and their team; they were in Vancouver playing soccer on a beautiful long weekend when they could have very well been out drinking, doing drugs or getting into other kinds of trouble; but instead they were competing against other youth teams in a tournament where the competition was fierce.

It is events and victories like these that help to keep our youth away from drugs and alcohol. These types of parades are welcomed by community members and I have never heard of one victory parade ever having such terrible outcomes.

I have just finished reading all the posts in this thread and am appalued at the doubble standard so many here have expressed. What people need to remember:

1) Cops are human too and react in a human manner if they feel threatened like anyone else they will defend theselves. After all survival is the strongest instict in all species.

2) No society can function with out laws to protect it's citizens.

The police are the ones specifically hired & trained to ensure the safety and well being of the citizens.

Look at any police cruiser and some where on it you will see the motto "TO PROTECT AND SERVE".

Yes on a rare occasion a mistake may be made after all they are only human and put their pants on one leg at a time like everyone else

3) Those who are quick to critize police forces are in my opinion hypocrytes as they will complain day and night but if they are the victim of a crime, guess who they call?

That's right the very organization they were attacking a moment ago. Talk about a double standard

Finally (4) Those who put on that badge every day put their lives on the line. No one knows when an office will die in the line of duty protecting a stranger's life.

Yet they do this year round. So unless you are willing to put on a badge yourself and get your hands dirty along side them BACK OFF OBEY THE LAW & LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS

It is sad to see that common sense takes precedence over fear-based reaction-ism.

It seems that lately that the police enforcement to the "letter of the law" is creating a police state.

If the RCMP come back with the youths were not wearing seatbelts in a moving vehicle as an answer for their response, then they should stop all parades! Are there not bigger fish to fry?

I feel for those officers who are trying every day to bring honour to the RCMP, only to be tarnished with yet another black eye.

P.S. Great job to the youth teams for their soccer victories!!!!

I'm astounded that a grown man wearing a gun, trained as a Canadian police officer no less, would feel it necessary to pepper-spray a mother and infant!

And it turns out it's all about a pickup truck overloaded with Canadians celebrating a sports win.

This was a cowardly act (I mean that - you're a coward if you spray a woman and child unless it'll save someone's life), and certainly demands an investigation.

I support the police, but I think they blew it, and someone deserves to lose their job.

I have to ask myself one question when I read a story like this,

If I (A White male in my 40's) was driving a pick-up truck with ten passengers riding and being rowdy in the back of my pick-up truck,

Would I have been stopped by the police?

No Question.

Had I tried to resist arrest from said police for doing something clearly illegal should I expect some sort of "reaction" from the police.

No Question.

This is nothing more then the Aboriginals in BC seeking a double standard, because anyone else of any sort of ethnicity in that situation would have to expect a reaction,

What sort of person resists arrest while their infant child is within ear shot?

Perhaps Mr. Myers should take some responsibility for his actions here.

There is little respect given to the RCMP, these men and women who work incredibly hard to keep us all safe. And we are so quick to blame anything they are involved in on them.

You need to put yourselves in their shoes, try to imagine a large group of people, high on adrenaline, riding around in the backs of pick up trucks with their children and becoming very confrontational when approached.

And if the police are already in the midst of pepperspraying people, why would you take your child into that environment??

If the RCMP ask you to do something, you comply, if it is wrong, file a complaint, don't argue with them, respect them. They will not do anything to harm you intentionally.

I am from an RCMP family, my brother is just heading off to Depo this fall and I couldn't be prouder.

But a little worried for his safety seeing how little respect there is left in Canada for them. You all need to realize they are the AUTHORITIES, listen up and obey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Generally speaking, Police need to have more discretion in their use of "non-lethal" weapons.

In this story there is not nearly enough information being presented to justify the police's actions, but any time children are intentionally exposed to harmful substances there needs to be a critical examination of the events.

This incident would appear to show that the "Day of Action" last Friday fell upon stone-deaf ears!

If the authorities in the country react in such a way when dealing with such a minor thing, I shudder to think of the fallout after the inevitable happens: some twisted jihadist blows themselves up in a crowded area.

This, above all else, tells me that the much vaunted "multi-culturalism" of Canada was nothing but propaganda, something based on a dream, not reality!

Absolutely nothing new from police forces in Canada and their interactions with Aboriginal peoples.

More facts are needed, but without a doubt the cops will be saying that it was a dangerous situation, blah blah blah.

"This is how the insurgents like to travel in Iraq!" Patrick, who is the drama queen? Remember who is illegally occupying Indian lands in Canada. Get out of the dark ages and learn some real Canadian history.

Nancy, with comments like yours it is easy to see why the racism in the Crminial justice system prevails.

Have a look at where the SCC has said why there are so many Aboriginals in jail - It is a Racist system. Docket Court is usually 90-95% Aboriginal peoples, I guess they are the only people who committ crime in Canada.

With white judges, white cops, white lawyers, and white legal systems the only room left for Indians is to be criminals in white society. Sad.

At least the cops did not murder some one this time... So sad to see in this day and age the racism and hate that exists on this board and in Canada.

Just add this to the list of 100s of abuses against Aboriginal peoples coast to coast in this country every year.

Of course, an Indian woman with a child is an incredible threat, my god she mave have sprayed warm milk on the cops.

Did the police go too far?
Well, let's see. First of all we have to try and cut through all this native/non-native stuff which is just muddying up the water and deal with straight facts.

1) 10 people (regardless of race) riding in the back of a pick up truck is illegal in every province in Canada. This is due to safety.

2) RCMP are trained in what is called IMIM which means "incident management intervention model". It is based on a starting point of "officer presence" which means that in many cases, simply the presence of an officer will difuse the situation.

This relies on officer's ability to communicate and the notion of deference to authority, and it gives police response options if resistence is encountered or force is used or threatened against them.

3) Not one person writing here (as far as I can tell) including myself, really knows what took place. Many assumptions are made on both sides (ie Nancy's ignorant, stereotypical derogitory comment about drunken natives and other's indicating the police just went in spraying and intentionally sprayed children). Some of these things may be true, although I doubt it.

Fact is that the police intervened to prevent the continuance of dangerous activities that could have led to serious bodily injury or death to one or more of the passengers in that truck. For whatever reason the situation escalated to a point where it sounds like the police were defending themselves (an assumption - I admitt).

Like others here, I'd like to hear the rest of the story.
One thing for sure is that this is a better headline than one that might have read "Native child dies tragically after falling from a pick up truck during celebration of soccer win - Charges against driver pending".

Holding your baby while approaching a potentially dangerous situation is irresponsible parenting.

It's high time we stop criticizing our police officers every move. Riding in the box of a truck is illegal, to avoid confrontation with police officers, obey the law.

Back to reality!
Just a day after celebrating our nation's 140th birthday, once again, we are involved in a very petty incident (sorry media) that shows that we still have a long way to go before we adhere to the basic principles of our nation.

"(Peace) (Yelling/threatening law enforcement officers, using pepper spray), (Order) (Breaking every traffic law in the book) (Good Government)(The implementation of the Indian Act?)

I'll gladly chip in for the party once we get everyone on the same page and treat everyone equally.

I believe it's situations like this that differentiates good (smart) cops from bad (dumb) cops. Were there laws being broken?...probably so. Should there have been arrests ? Ultimately no...probably just a fine.

But this all comes down to common sense and the gravity of the situation at hand. If there was no immediate danger then why provoke a major incident?

Why not use passive control until the "parade" is over. Why not offer an escort....(most parades have them).... Then issue the "MOVING VIOLATION" fine afterwards or at least a strong warning.

I would like to thank Beverly for her comments. She puts it very well.

I have lived in several small towns and it is very common to pile up the back of the pick up truck and "do the victory round". And I have yet to see anyone stopped for it!!

If I was simply proud of my kids, and confronted I would probably be angry and incredulous as I was doing a good thing! I also wouldn't dream that approaching an officer complaining ... that I would be pepper sprayed.

And Nancy from Ontario. Your "the ten drunken natives" comments are incredibly offensive. Nancy I have seen many a young fellow, and lady for that matter, drunk and celebrating a win. Bit of a rite of victory by sport fans and participants around the world, wouldn't you think?

I really don't see what being native has to do with it.

Your racism is profound and completely obvious.

It's obvious that these young inexperienced non native officers (assumption intended)obviously don't have kids of their own or have not been apart of team sports in the Sechelt community.

It is a shame that the assumption was made by many of the public that alcohol was involved. These youth were celebrating their success and are role models in their community.

Perhaps they could have negotiated with the youth (aka children) and the mob (the mothers with infants) had their irrational racialized fear not taken over. Perhaps the quiet of the national day of protest left the RCMP with misplaced adrenaline with nothing to do.

Think of the consequences before you act. If you make a mistake, take responsibility for it.

And if you are stopped by the police for an infraction of the law (what do you *think* their reaction is going to be when they see you break the law?), for cryin' out loud, comply.

I'm quite confident that if the crowd involved had listened to the directives of the police (dispersal, get out of the vehicle, etc.), they wouldn't have been pepper-sprayed. In the video, it looks to me like the police were surrounded - what do you think a natural human reaction is going to be in this situation?

Police state!? So what... are the police supposed to allow people to break the law, then? Don't we call that police corruption? Have we, as a society, not agreed on a set of principles of law, and hired a force to... well, *enforce* them?

The only way to behave when stopped by police (any) is "Yes, Sir; No Sir; I can't recall, Sir; Could you please explain that again Sir?". Anything else makes them think that they are walking into a potentially dangerous situation.

Want to fight them? Do it in court. The scene of an altercation is how to lose the battle with the police and have more charges laid. Period.

I am not condoning the RCMP's actions, as I haven't heard their comment. As for ten people in a pickup creating noise - in my small town MB community the cops would be ALL OVER US to show us that they were there, watching and waiting to (hopefully not) press charges. And we were all white, so much for racism.

With recent events having boiled over too often (aborignial - Cdn relations) it was not a good move - but who can say what they thought was going to happen? How ugly would it have gotten? What was their last call? How much attitude did they get?

There just isn't enough information to determine whether pepper spray was justified.

On a general level however, the police are almost always in a no-win situation in these kinds of incidents where any minority group is involved. They are criticized as being "heavy handed" and/or "discriminatory" if they do take action and held up to ridicule if they stand by and do nothing.

A prime example is the so-called Gay Pride Parade in Toronto. The police are basically forced by political correctness to stand by and watch as participants strut naked in public and perform lewd, obscene acts that would get anyone else arrested on the spot.

Many criticize the police for failing to enforce a very clear law but, if they did, many others would call them "homophobic" and call for an investigation while the press crucified them. The police simply can't win.

My hat is off to all our police officers who must contend with our society's totally confused and ambiguous view of what is right and wrong. Why anyone would want their job is beyond me.

Police officers are trained to use pepper spray only when they are at risk. Obviously, this woman was attacking the officer with a dangerous baby, and got what she deserved.

How many non-native babies have been pepper sprayed lately? The fact that these youth were celebrating a sports victory is a wonderful thing... and still there are those writing in that do their damndest to ensure the negative stereotypes of Fisrt Nations people are brought forward - law breakers and abusers of the system.

I guess none of us have ever seen a pickup load of non-native baseball players celebrating a victory in that fashion eh? I guess it must only be First Nations that cannot celebrate in that fashion! Hyprocracy is alive and well in BC/Canada

"The reality is that an overloaded pick-up with TEN people in the bed is going to get you stopped regardless of your ethnic background."

This is how the insurgents like to travel in Iraq! Its also likely a violation of the BC Highway Traffic Act due to the dangerous nature of said transport.

And why people argue with or resist police is beyond me when they know its gonna end one way, that is unless you to are armed and wish to do something that will forever alter your life.

I dunno if it is adrenaline or drugs and alcohol but this will always play out like this until drivers and the passengers learn to behave and be smart.

After watching the news this morning it was clear to me that the driver of the truck was arguing and trying to resist arrest from the police.

It looked liked it took several police officers to subdue this man. While that was taking place several others approached the vehicle making verbal and physical threats towards the police.

And why the others let their children run towards vehicle is beyond me. I can only hope that the parents would not have put their children in harms way just for publicity. So what were the police to do?

If you or I were in the same position the pepper spray would come out fast, kids or no kids. I think they got off lucky once again and I have no sympathy for what happened to the people. Obey the laws and you won't get hurt!

I would like to have a better understanding of "resisted arrest".

The reality is that an overloaded pick-up with TEN people in the bed is going to get you stopped regardless of your ethnic background.

So the question then becomes what happened next? Did Mr. Myers attempt to drive off with an RCMP officer at his door and kids in the back of the truck? did he attempt to walk away? did he forceably attempt to evade the RCMP?

Because if that was the case, then of course pepper spray was warranted.

If I was an RCMP officer in a crowd coupled with a driver who may have been resisting arrest aggressively its the tamest step that could have been used to assure the RCMP officers safety.

As for "Children" being sprayed, Ms. Phillips should have perhaps had more common sense then to run toward a situation such as that in the first place.

But on that note, Mr. Myers should not have made an attempt to resist arrest for something that is clearly illegal and unsafe.

Has almost everyone on here forgotten that they had ten people in the back of a pick-up truck and that they were breaking the law? Not only that but they then refused to pull over, and once the police did get them to stop they then resisted arrest!

It really is quite simple people. Don't break the law, don't resist arrest, don't think you are above the law, and you won't get pepper sprayed.

Why is that hard to understand?

Well this one will probably go two ways.

First off its sounds like the incident was on tape. I would suspect that all this honking was happening before 11PM, ruling out the noise violation issue; however the 10 people in the truck will make it harder for them to say they did nothing wrong.

I've seen many good cops in my days, but I've also seen enough bad ones (including ones who dealt drugs and abused their girlfriends) to know the screening process is far from perfect.

I think its about time Officers started carrying cameras and recorders on their shoulders for their shift. The technology is there, and so is the confusion.

It could put an end to both false accusations against officers and those few bad cops out there.

Pepper Spray should only be used when an officer is in danger. In this case, I would imagine that this truck was carrying the youth around town like a parade (celebrating the soccer win).

What a disgrace to the RCMP for this incident--I hope it will be looked into and as well, I hope that officers who are placed in communities with aboriginals have some special training. This type of abuse has gone on too long.

So what does the police spokesperson have to say about the incident?

You see without their testimony you only have one side of the story, and seeing how this kind of incident is one whereby evidence alone cannot answer the question at hand, then you can't really know what happened since the only eye witnesses are sympethetic to the complainant.

"Canada has become a police state."

Off of one alleged incident. C'mon Fred don't be such a drama queen!

"If these people had been rich white folk, the RCMP would have helped lead the parade, racist police, a shame on Canada."

Dianne, I'd hold off on the "white priviledge rant..." currently there's an incident of alleged brutality being investigated in Hamilton where the alleged victim is a white male resident of one of the Lower Mountain area homes which are all roughly half a million dollars or more in value.

Hamilton by the way has a huge aboriginal community and still this kid from a wealthy neighbourhood allegedly got his ass whipped!

To LM Ethier.

The reason why the RCMP were there in the first place was the fact that we taxpayers pay them to enforce laws and it was obvious that they were being broken.

If the police weren't there and something did happen (i.e., an accident involving the 10 people in the pick up truck) you would be turning around and criticizing the RCMP for not being there to prevent this...which way do you want it??

The fact is, Natives are the highest percentage of criminals in our prisons for a reason. They need to learn they are not above Canadian law.

The officers acted properly, these natives were resisting arrest and posed a serious threat. 10 drunken natives cruising around town in a back of pickup truck is threat to citizens.

For those who think the police went to far and especially for those who want to blame the police for spraying children. Let me remind you, Shannon Phillips obviously saw what was going on and she was the one who chose to carry her baby towards this nasty situation.

Maybe if she had passed off her baby to a relative who was smartly not involved then her baby would most likely not have been exposed. Consider themselves lucky that police didn't bring out the batons as well.

So far, we've heard only one side of the argument, that of the Native Band. Let's wait and see what the full investigation will show.

Our police are there to protect the rights and safety of Canadians. The police also have a right to protect themselves against those who willfully or otherwise break the laws of Canada and disrespect legal authority.

And as for the remarks of the RCMP being racist and targeting aboriginals, I wonder what would happen if a bunch of us white folk decided to block, for the sake of argument, the CN Rail lines in Ontario?

Just another case of big brother trying to keep us in line when it's certainly not necessary.

Intervention would have only been required if harm was to have immediately been prevelant.

The RCMP should have stood on the sidelines to observe and not have stepped in.

Why were they even there anyway?
In Vancouver, they have their own police force don't they?
Terrible, just terrible.

It always seems that when people are being a little too roudy, and the Police have to interveen, the second that these people realize that the cops have more "defensive" measures than the people causing the rukus, they start moaning and dripping and blah, blah, blah.

Any person with the intellegence of a common kitchen SPONGE knows that if the cops tell you to do something, shut the heck up and do as you are told!

These folks are now going to moan and drip that they were discriminated against and who their plight is a great injustice, so on -so on.

NEWSFLASH!, don't be jerks to police, and they won't be jerks to you.

But we all know how this will turn out, a big deal will be made of this, all the bleeding hearts will have their dander up, some poor cop will get in trouble and other posters on this site will target this post and acuse me of everything from being a TORI to lacing up jackboots. Good times...

"Pepper sprayed 15 people including two children under two years old" What the heck is wrong with the RCMP?

They can't seem to handle anything anymore.
Pepperspraying anyone under the age of 10 should result in immediate dismissal (DISHONOURABLE) and charges being laid.

There is NO reason to ever spray anyone under ten - crowd or no crowd.

No the police did not go too far.

You talk to any police officer any where and you will get the same answer. Use of any sort of force is ONLY done when one of two incidents occur (A) the police officer or a 3rd party civilian is in the officers assesment in danger of death or serious injury and (B) to assist the officer in controling some one who has been placed under arrest but is refusing to comply with the officers instructions and as such is considered to be resisting arrest.

At no time does an officer use something like pepper spray just for the "fun" of it, bewcause as part of their training they have been sprayed them selves and as such know what it feel like. Use of any weapon is "last resort" time only no other way

The police have a right to defend themselves, but only up to a point - it doesn't matter much they worry about their own safety, they should never use potentially lethal force on children.

If the officer or officers thought they were about to lose control of the situation, they should have left the scene and called for backup, not gone on the attack.

The article ends by saying that a 42-year-old is in custody facing charges; we can only hope it is the officer who committed this assault.