A Regina Aboriginal man says he has been the victim of racial profiling at least three times by Regina police and he wants it to stop.
Simon Ash-Moccasin went to Regina city hall this morning with the hopes of getting a meeting with the mayor and personally
presenting him with the findings of a public complaints investigation that found police were wrong when they detained, handcuffed and held him briefly in 2014 on suspicion of theft.
Ash-Moccasin struggled at times as he spoke to reporters, pausing and collecting his thoughts as he talked about what happened to him.
He says he also suffers from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, making it even more difficult for him to deal with it.
“Its been quite a journey, it’s been quite a struggle too,” he says. “I believe the events that happened to me that night have kind of woke me up to seek justice for my people out here on the streets, every day struggling.”
In December of 2014, Ash-Moccasin was walking in the downtown area when he was detained, handcuffed and questioned.
Police picked up him after being called to the area to investigate a complaint about an Aboriginal man trying to sell what appeared to be a stolen television.
Ash-Moccasin says, aside from being Aboriginal, he did not match the suspect’s description and police had no right to detain him.
The Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission investigated and agreed.
Regina’s police chief apologized to him earlier this month and says officers will be getting more cultural sensitivity training. Ash-Moccasin says that is not enough.
“I was shocked to read how widespread the deficiencies are at the Regina Police Service,” he says. “I was also shocked to learn that the officers involved received no disciplinary action.”
Regina’s mayor, Michael Fougere, was not available to meet Ash-Moccasin, but his letter and a copy of the complaints commission findings will be delivered to him.
Ash-Moccasin is still working on a mediation settlement with the police and is also pursuing a human rights complaint.