A Williams Lake First Nations woman who suffered injuries while in police custody three years ago has filed a civil claim against three RCMP officers and the City of Williams Lake as the employer responsible for police conduct.
Jamie Haller, who will turn 20 next week, filed a notice of civil claim in Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver on Monday, Aug. 25.
She is seeking relief for general and special damages, punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages, compensation and costs.
“The plaintiff claims for battery, wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, a breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” the notice of claim states.
“The plaintiff also claims for failure to protect and failure to investigate her reports to police.”
Originally a charge of assault was made against Williams Lake RCMP Const. Andy Yung.
The case was heard in Williams Lake provincial court for three days in January 2013 and resulted in Yung being acquitted.
Originally the BC Civil Liberties Association called for an independent investigation of the incident and filed a complaint against the RCMP under the Police Act.
In a press release Tuesday, Aug. 26, BCCLA executive director Josh Paterson said First Nations people in this province are over policed and under-protected by law enforcement.
“Jamie Haller’s arrest, and her treatment by police, are just another terrible example of that,” Paterson said.
Williams Lake RCMP Sgt. Rick Lebeuf said he could not comment on the case, but confirmed that Yung and Const. Daniel Hay, also named in the civil claim, have relocated to work at other RCMP detachments.
“The City has no comment on the matter at this time,” said Ken MacInnis, communications co-ordinator.