Pangnirtung RCMP officer ‘arrests’ 50 residents for hockey fundraiser

RCMP Const. Andrew Quan arrived in Pangnirtung less than two weeks ago. On Sunday night, he introduced himself to 50 of his new neighbours by arresting them — for charity.

“It was a set-up,” protested Stefan Painchaud, director of cargo with Canadian North, who served 15 minutes of hard time in the Akshayuk Arena canteen before posting bail in the form of a donation to minor hockey.

He’d been playing cards in the hotel dining room when Quan scooped him up.

The set-up is known as Jail Bail, a fundraising strategy where residents can anonymously pay to have others mock-arrested in support of a youth hockey tournament planned for Saturday and Sunday.

Volunteer jailers Reanna Kuluguqtuk, Melissa Kullualik and Carolyne Mike watched over Painchaud and dozens of other semi-willing prisoners as they served their time or scrambled to scrounge $20 or more to post bail.

Deputy Mayor Markus Wilcke, hunter Dave Battye, Travel Nunavut president Alex Stubbing and handcuffed hockey coach Matthew Nowyuk all filed into the arena on Quan’s arm, much to the delight of young skaters who watched the spectacle from the dressing rooms.

Oloosie Pitseolak dropped in to issue a make-believe arrest warrant for friends Pia Maniapik and Michael Kakee.

“I’ve trained all my life for this. Let’s go get them,” Quan said.

All of the so-called convicts had been released by night’s end and volunteers counted $1,200 in donated bribes and bail — enough to pay referees to officiate the tournament with enough left over for team prizes.

Despite Quan’s prolific arrest tally, it wasn’t the busiest night of his career.

“Close to it,” he said. “I’ve had some big days.”