THUNDER BAY — Nishnawbe Aski Police Service officers say they were left with no other option other than arresting Moses Beaver, who was experiencing a mental health crisis in his home community of Nibinamik First Nation, which highlights some of the challenges that exist with policing remote communities.
“Unfortunately, we had very little options and resources at our disposal,” said Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Sgt. Galen Cushway. “Because we weren’t able to get him out on the Ornge flight, this was the manner we had to go.”
The first week of testimony at the coroner’s inquest examining the circumstances surrounding Beaver’s death in February 2017 wrapped up on Friday.
Beaver died at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on February 13, 2017 after being transferred from the Thunder Bay District Jail.
Over the last two days, officers with NAPS testified, providing details of policing in remote First Nation communities and the circumstances that led to Beaver’s arrest.
Earlier testimony by health care providers revealed Beaver began suffering a mental health crisis on January 14, 2017 shortly after returning to Nibinamik First Nation.
Numerous attempts were made to evacuate Beaver to a larger centre like Sioux Lookout or Thunder Bay to receive assessment and treatment.
Ornge attempted to arrange a flight for Beaver, but weather caused delays and aircraft were diverted to higher priority calls.
According to Ornge medical director, Dr. Bruce Sawadsky, who testified on Thursday, the Ornge staff was trying to find any possible avenue they could to evacuate Beaver, including utilizing security personnel since police no longer provided escorts on aircraft.
“Unfortunately, with the combination of weather, higher priority of calls, and security, we were unable to,” he said.
Prior to police no longer providing escorts in 2016, Sawadsky said Ornge was looking at other options for transporting patients with mental illness, including chemical sedation, physical restraints, and security escorts.
Sawadsky added the availability of resources also limits the services Ornge is able to provide, with the service operating four fixed wing aircraft and eight helicopters in Northwestern Ontario.
“The best way we can build trust in the community is have a timely and reliable services,” he said. “If I was given more aircraft and more services, I think we could do that.”
Other limitations exist with staffing, as according to the collective bargaining agreement, paramedics cannot work overtime unless it is for an emergent patient, which was not the case for Beaver.
“I feel very sorry for the loss of the Beaver family and the community around him. It’s an unfortunate tragedy that I hope can bring some light onto the flaws in the system we have,” Sawadsky said. “This is just one part of it. But I think this is an opportunity to make some big differences in people’s lives in how we provide the services that we do.”
Also called to testify on Thursday was NAPS Det. Insp. Brad Duce, who was the acting Staff Sgt. on Jan. 14, 2017 when he received a call from Nibinamik First Nation counsellor advising that Beaver was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Duce was not in the community at the time and he was aware that no officers were in Nibinamik that night.
“It is quite prevalent where there will be times, because of our shortage of officers, some communities won’t have an officer in the community,” Duce said. “It was a big struggle with our service and continues to be a struggle with our agency.”
Duce testified that he arranged an officer from a neighbouring community to drive to Nibinamik First Nation via the winter road, which would take approximately six hours.
Cushway was the responding officer and he testified that when he arrived in the community he was made aware that Beaver had assaulted two individuals, who also requested his assistance in controlling Beaver.
Community members had been assisting with the supervision of Beaver since he could not be evacuated out of the community and the nursing station did not have an adequate space to house a patient experiencing a mental health crisis.
When he arrived at Beaver’s residence, Cushway observed him sitting on a chair, but then got up and held up a tikinagan, an Indigenous baby carrier, as a shield. Cushway also noticed Beaver was holding a knife.
Cushway testified that he drew his taser and Beaver complied with his orders, laying down on the floor and dropping the knife.
Beaver was taken into custody on two counts of assault and one count of breaching his recognizance for being in possession of a weapon.
While in custody at the NAPS detachment in the community, an alarm went off and Cushway observed Beaver in a cell with a piece of string and the sprinkler head inside broken and gushing water.
A report prepared by Cushway after the incident stated the string was around Beaver’s neck but during testimony he could not recall where the string was or how he obtained it, though he added he assumed it could have been an attempt by Beaver at self-harm.
Both Cushway and Duce testified that they believed Beaver would receive psychiatric evaluation when at the Thunder Bay District Jail and Duce said staff were notified of Beaver’s mental health condition.
In terms of any potential recommendations, Duce said better communication is needed between police and health care providers in remote communities, while Cushway added more resources are needed.
“As a police organization, as a health organization, we can always communicate better,” Duce said. “We are all deemed as essential services, so it is paramount that we work together.”
“I think for frontline officers, it would be very helpful to have a place inside the nursing station for individuals like this, a place of safety and staff to monitor the individual,” Cushway added.
A psychiatric expert also testified on Friday, providing information on mental health conditions, including bi-polar disorder.
The inquest will resume on Monday.
