Three Prince George Mounties pleaded not guilty to an attempt to obstruct justice charge in relation to the 2017 in-custody death of Indigenous man Dale Culver.
According to the BC Prosecution Service, Cst. Arthur Dalman, Cst. Clarence (Alex) Alexander MacDonald, and Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz was arraigned on Wednesday and elected to be tried by a provincial court judge.
All matters were adjourned until August 23rd.
In addition, Cst. Paul Ste-Marie and Cst. Jean Francois Monette each faces a count of manslaughter, to which they have also pled not guilty.
In February, the Prosecution Service approved charges against all five officers.
On the evening of July 18th, 2017, police responded to a report of a man “casing vehicles” on the 1000 block of Central Street West – a struggle ensued, and pepper spray was deployed.
Once apprehended, the suspect had trouble breathing and requested medical assistance.
When the ambulance arrived, he collapsed and was pronounced dead shortly after.
In March 2020, the Independent Investigations Office of BC sent a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.