Latest news with #DaleCulver
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
Judge upholds obstruction conviction for B.C. Mountie in Dale Culver case
Dale Culver, 35, went into medical distress after being tackled to the ground and pepper-sprayed by RCMP officers on July 18, 2017. A provincial court judge has ruled that the guilty verdict stands for an RCMP officer convicted of obstruction of justice in the case of an Indigenous man who died in police custody in 2017, clearing the way for sentencing. A statement from the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association says Judge Adrian Brooks dismissed the attempt by RCMP Const. Arthur Dalman to have the proceedings stayed, rejecting Dalman's claim that his Charter rights were breached. The B.C. Prosecution Service has confirmed the ruling, which communications counsel Damienne Darby says was released on May 29. Dalman was found guilty last July of obstruction of justice for ordering witnesses to delete video footage taken at the time Dale Culver was arrested in Prince George. The civil liberties association says officers used pepper spray during the 'violent' arrest and Culver died about 30 minutes later after complaining of breathing difficulties. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. recommended charges in 2020 after finding reasonable grounds to believe two officers may have committed offences related to the use of force and three others may have obstructed justice. But the civil liberties association says manslaughter charges against two officers were stayed last year, one obstruction charge was stayed and another officer was acquitted of obstruction, leaving Dalman as the only officer convicted in the case. The reasons for Brooks' judgment have not been released, and Darby said in a statement on Monday that Dalman's next appearance is on June 19 to set a date for a sentencing hearing. Culver was from the Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en Nations. He was 35 years old at the time of his death. An RCMP release from the time said police had received a report about a man casing vehicles and found a suspect who tried to flee on a bicycle. The civil liberties association, meanwhile, said after Culver's death that it was aware of reports from eyewitnesses that he 'was taken forcibly to the ground by RCMP members immediately after exiting a liquor store, apparently unprovoked.' The group shared a statement from Culver's daughter, Lily Speed-Namox, following the judge's decision to uphold Dalman's conviction this week. The family has waited 'eight long years' for accountability, Speed-Namox says. 'I have somehow managed to remain positive about my feelings that eventually someone would be held accountable. 'Even if it's because Dalman lied under oath to 'protect' his fellow officers. How many people have to die before people realize that the justice system is broken?' In the earlier decision finding Dalman guilty of obstruction of justice, the same provincial court judge, Adrian Brooks, found the officer deliberately lied and his evidence was 'so fraught with illogical missteps … and so contradictory when compared with reliable evidence, that it (was) not worthy of any belief.' Culver's cousin, Debbie Pierre, says in a statement that Brooks' latest decision upholding Dalman's conviction marks a step toward accountability. 'But true justice goes beyond one decision. My vision is for a system where Indigenous lives are protected — not silenced — and where police are trained to de-escalate, not destroy. 'This is not just about Dale; it's about transforming a justice system that continues to fail our people. We will not stop until that change is real.' This report by Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press, was first published June 9, 2025.
CBC
09-06-2025
- CBC
B.C. Mountie loses bid to stay obstruction of justice charge connected to 2017 death of Indigenous man
Social Sharing A Prince George RCMP officer has lost a bid to stay an obstruction of justice charge and will now be sentenced, in a case connected to the 2017 death of an Indigenous man in custody. In July 2024, Const. Arthur Dalman was found guilty of obstructing justice for ordering a bystander to delete cellphone video showing the aftermath of the police takedown and arrest of Dale Culver on July 18, 2017. The 35-year-old Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en man died in police custody 29 minutes after he was arrested, following a struggle with multiple police officers. Dalman is one of two officers who went on trial in the obstruction of justice case. The constable filed an application to stay his 2024 conviction, arguing that lengthy pre-trial delays meant he was denied his Charter rights to a trial within a reasonable timeframe. WATCH | Dalman found guilty of obstruction of justice: Prince George RCMP officer found guilty of obstructing justice 11 months ago Duration 2:12 A provincial court judge has found a Prince George RCMP officer guilty of obstructing justice for ordering a bystander to the aftermath of a violent police takedown to delete video of the incident from his verdict is the latest chapter in the case of Dale Culver — a 35-year-old who died about 30 minutes after he was taken into custody following a fight with multiple police officers. CBC's Jason Proctor shares the details. However, in a ruling on May 29, Judge Adrian Brooks dismissed Dalman's application. His next court appearance is on June 19 to schedule a date for his sentencing. The other officer accused of obstruction of justice, Staff Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz was found not guilty in 2024. Time to trial Culver's arrest and death happened nearly eight years ago, on July 18, 2017. That was followed by an investigation by B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office (IIO), an oversight agency that investigates anytime a police-involved incident results in serious harm or death. It filed its initial report to Crown counsel in July 2019, followed by an updated report in May 2020. Close to three years later, in February 2023, Crown prosecutors announced charges of manslaughter against two Mounties and charges of obstruction against three others, the first time the accused were publicly named. Charges against the two officers accused of manslaughter were stayed in April 2024. Charges against one of the officers accused of obstruction were stayed a month later, while the trial for the other two officers accused of obstruction was completed on July 25, 2024, resulting in Dalman's guilty verdict. 'Rare occurrence,' civil rights group says Culver's death and its aftermath have been viewed by civil rights advocates and First Nations leadership groups in B.C. as a key test of the justice system's ability to hold police accountable. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) hailed the recent dismissal of Dalman's application, with a staff lawyer saying it's uncommon for officers to be charged with criminal offences and even less common for them to be found guilty. "We recognize that this is such a rare occurrence — that not only was Const. Arthur Dalman found guilty of obstruction of justice, but that despite his application to challenge that verdict, the judge upheld his guilty verdict," said Latoya Farrell. "And now we're going to be moving to sentencing, which is monumental in steps towards the police accountability." In a statement shared by the BCCLA, Culver's daughter asked how many people would have to die before the public realized the justice system was broken. "We have been waiting eight long years for this, and I have somehow managed to remain positive about my feelings that eventually someone would be held accountable," Lily Speed-Namox said. Police federation says case took too long However, the National Police Federation's Pacific-North director, Chris Voller, was critical of Dalman's application being dismissed. "I think that this was an error," he told CBC News. "I think it was very clearly demonstrated, throughout the testimony of all involved, that Const. Dalman's Charter rights were clearly denied." Voller said the IIO, which forwarded a report to Crown prosecutors in Dalman's case recommending that charges be laid, made evidentiary errors in the case. "The public of British Columbia want and deserve to have the ability to say the oversight of their police officers is competent, timely and reasonable," he said. "We would request a review of the competency, timeliness and reasonableness associated to both the IIO investigations and charge assessment by the Crown counsel." Timeline of events: July 18, 2017: Dale Culver is arrested and dies in police custody. July 19, 2017: Independent Investigation Office of B.C. (IIO) begins its investigation. Aug. 22, 2017: IIO appeals for key witnesses to come forward. July 16, 2019: IIO completes its investigation and forwards a report to the B.C. Prosecution Service to consider charges. May 29, 2020: IIO announces it's made updates to its investigation and has expanded the file in consultation with Crown council. IIO has determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that two officers may have committed offences in relation to the use of force and three others may have committed offences regarding obstruction of justice. Feb 1, 2023: Manslaughter charges are sworn against Const. Paul Ste-Marie and Const. Jean Francois Monette, while Const. Arthur Dalman, Const. Clarence (Alex) Alexander MacDonald and Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz face attempted obstruction charges. Feb. 2, 2023: IIO director Ronald J. MacDonald responds to concerns regarding delays. MacDonald says the time it has taken to lay charges is unacceptable. He says the IIO is hindered by its ability to attract and retain enough qualified and experienced investigators to fully and properly staff the IIO. April 5, 2024: Prosecutors stay manslaughter charges against Const. Paul Ste-Marie and Const. Jean Francois Monette after a pathologist determined Dale Culver died of a heart attack, not blunt force trauma as was initially believed. May 14, 2024: The Crown stays a criminal charge against Const. Clarence (Alex) Alexander MacDonald, three days before his obstruction of justice trial was set to begin. The spokesperson said the B.C. Prosecution Service wouldn't comment on the reasons for the decision until the conclusion of trial proceedings against two other officers also charged with obstruction of justice in the Culver case. June 14, 2024: Trial begins for Const. Arthur Dalman and Staff Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz. July 25, 2024: Judge Adrian Brooks finds Const. Arthur Dalman guilty but acquits co-accused Staff Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz. Aug. 16, 2024: Counsel for Dalman files an application to stay the charges due to pre-trial delays.
