Siksika man's broken facial bones blamed on RCMP 'abuse'

RCMP making an arrestare alleged to have battered an Alberta First Nation man, hauled him naked fromhis home and broughthim to a detachment before realizing he needed an ambulance, says his familywho are accusing the police of racism and brutality.

Christian Duck Chief, 23, is recovering from a broken eye socket, fractured cheek bone, fracture to the back of his head and a broken nose.

Duck Chief and his wife say they were sleeping in their home on the Siksika First Nation southeast of Calgary Friday when RCMP from the Gleichen detachment entered their home around 6a.m. to arresthim.

"I can hear him screaming for me, and I can hear him saying 'Stop, honey help me,'" said Duck Chief's wife, Chantel Stonechild, who saidshe was taken out of the home as her husband was still being beaten.

They acknowledge Duck Chief struggled at first, saying he was on his stomach when woken and didn't know it was police. But they allege an RCMP officer hit him at least 20 times after he stopped struggling and shouted that he wasn't resisting, even as he lay handcuffed on the floor.

Duck Chief who has been charged in connection with the incident and his lawyersaidthe force used by the officer was excessive.

RCMPrespond

RCMPsay the caseis under investigation and couldn't speak about the allegation.

"There is a formal process available to people who feel they've been mistreatedby theRCMP," said Cpl. Sharon Franks.

Franks saidno complaint has been filed by the family at this point.

That is a stephislawyer, DaleFedorchuk,saidhe is urging his client to take.

"Given the nature of the injuries suffered by Mr.Duck Chief, and the extent of the injuries he suffered, I think this matter needs to be investigated."

The aboriginal coupleand many who have commented onFacebookphotos ofDuck Chief'sinjuries believe they are the victims of racism.

They suspect the arrest occurred either because a friend had visited them the night before in a stolen vehicle or that RCMPwrongly believed Duck Chief was still under a bail condition that he not be in the home with his wife.

"I was screaming for my kids, I thought they were people breaking into my house," said Stonechild. "That cop was already grabbing his arm before he woke up."

'More than 20 times, that cop hit him'

Duck Chiefsaidhestruggledat first because he thoughtsomeone had broken into their home and was attacking them, and initiallybit the officer's finger.

That's when the beating began, according to Stonechild.She said thatas soon as the officer said "stop resisting arrest"her husband realized what was happening and complied.

"Christian said, 'I'm not resisting, I'm not resisting,' and the cop started elbowing him in the face," said Stonechild. "More than 20 times that cop hit him on the face while he was on the ground."

Even while he was on the ground, handcuffed and not resisting, the elbows to the face continued, saidStonechild.

Finally, RCMP brought Duck Chief outside, naked, and took him to the detachment, but police soon realized he needed medical attention, and anambulance was called to take him to the local hospital, according toDuck Chief's lawyer.

After X-rays,he was transferred to Calgary'sPeter Lougheed Hospital where he had surgery on his eye.Fedorchuk visited him over the weekend.

"Frankly I was appalled," said Fedorchuk. "No Canadian citizen should suffer abuse at the hands of a police officer ever."

Duck Chief is known to police,and Fedorchuk suspects this could be why police entered the home in the first place. Duck Chief has assault charges before the courts and his release initially included the condition he not live in the home with his wife.

But those conditions were amended,Fedorchuk said, andthe restriction has been lifted since July.

Duck Chief will appear in Drumheller court on Wednesday, and his lawyer will try to get him released on bail.

New charges of assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and breaching bail conditions were laid in connection to Friday's incident.