Arviat men bop cop

IQALUIT — Two Arviat men are in big trouble after allegedly committing a crime spree last month.

Luke Pingushat, 20, and Vernon Kritaqliluq, 27, were arrested twice in a single week for a long list of offenses, including assaulting a police officer.

The crime wave began June 25, when the two men were arrested after allegedly attacking an RCMP constable with a pipe and a piece of wood.

The officer was investigating a break-and-enter when the alleged assault occurred.

A resident who came to the officer’s aid was also struck by the piece of wood. Neither the resident nor the officer was seriously injured.

Pingushat was charged with assaulting a police officer, assault with a weapon, resisting arrest and breach of probation. Kritaqliluq was charged with assaulting a police officer, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

Five days later, on June 30, Arviat police responded to a complaint of a disturbance at the Grub Box restaurant.

When RCMP attempted to arrest one man, several of his family members allegedly confronted police. Reinforcements were then flown in from Rankin Inlet.

Arrested once again were Kritaqliluq — for assaulting a police officer, causing a disturbance, resisting arrest, being drunk in public and uttering threats — and Pingushat, for obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, uttering threats and being drunk in public.