Quebec police watchdog investigating Inukjuak arrest

Quebec’s independent police watchdog is investigating an incident in Inukjuak last week where the Nunavik Police Service says a suspect’s attempt to resist arrest led to “a physical altercation” with a police officer.

Nunavik police said the matter has been turned over to the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, which reports to Quebec’s minister of public security, in a news release issued Saturday.

That police watchdog investigates when someone dies or is seriously injured during contact with police, all criminal allegations against a police officer by an Inuit victim or complainant, and allegations of sexual offences against police officers.

Nunavik police say that just before noon on Feb. 27, an officer responded to a call for assistance from a resident who saw a woman being harassed and aggressively approached by a male on “the main road.”

Two women at the scene identified the suspect, who was still nearby, and the officer interviewed him. After he was told he was under arrest, the release said, the suspect tried to flee.

“The officer caught up with the suspect who actively resisted, which led to a physical altercation,” the release said.

The release does not say if the suspect or officer were injured, or whether the suspect was eventually charged.

Nunavik Police Service said the officer has been placed on administrative leave and won’t resume patrol duties while the police watchdog is investigating. It said the officer’s body-camera footage has been turned over to investigators.

The police service declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation. A spokesperson for the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes could not be reached for comment Monday.