Pacey Dumas and his mom wept at a information convention Friday afternoon as they described the fallout from the evening an Edmonton police officer kicked Dumas within the head, inflicting lingering accidents.
“What Const. Ben Todd did, he destroyed our household,” stated Pacey’s mom, Irene.
“He can stay his life completely whereas we’re right here day by day grieving,” Dumas stated.
On Thursday, the Alberta Severe Incident Response Crew (ASIRT) launched its investigation into the early morning hours of December 9, 2020, when police have been known as to a battle outdoors Dumas’ dwelling.
Heather Steinke-Attia (left) with Irene and Pacey Dumas at a information convention Friday, April 28, 2023.
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Dumas’ legal professional, Heather Steinke-Attia, stated when police arrived, Dumas and his older brother Blair willingly got here outdoors and obtained on the bottom.
As police tried to arrest Dumas, Const. Ben Todd kicked him within the head like one would a soccer ball, in accordance with the ASIRT report.
Dumas required a nine-day keep in ICU and ASIRT stated the results of his accidents could be long-lasting, if not everlasting.
Though ASIRT stated there was an inexpensive probability Todd might be charged with a legal offence, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) stated it could not lay fees.
The choice reopened wounds for Dumas, who stated he has been offended all week since listening to.
“How am I imagined to course of this in my head?”
Blair, who witnessed the kick, died of suicide a bit greater than a yr in the past, Irene stated.
“(Blair) stated he wished he may have completed one thing, however he could not. He at all times stated that. It is unnecessary,” Dumas stated.
“Lacking Blair…” Irene trailed off.
“We broke everybody, the entire household,” Dumas concluded.
“The boys have been so shut. When you noticed Blair, you knew Pacey was proper across the nook,” stated Leigh Ann Ward, Dumas’ aunt.
Police Chief Dale McFee stated he has issues concerning the ACPS determination and that the service is dedicated to investigating Todd’s actions from an expert standpoint.
“We’re asking folks proper now to belief the method,” McFee stated.
Now that the ASIRT investigation has concluded, Steinke-Attia stated the civil lawsuit the household filed in opposition to McFee, Todd and every of the unidentified officers current that evening can transfer ahead.
“Along with Const. Ben Todd, there are a selection of different officers that we imagine are responsible for varied causes,” Steinke-Attia stated.
She stated with the present social local weather specializing in reconciliation and the rectification of previous injustices in opposition to the indigenous group, ACPS ought to disclose the explanation for its determination.
“There may be this assurance that it can’t occur once more, there can’t be cover-up misconduct and there should be accountability for previous errors so that there’s a constructive future, however there seems to be an incapability to acknowledge what’s at present happening,” she stated.
“Not placing a case like this earlier than the courts to permit the general public to know what is going on on … sends a horrible message … and hurts the indigenous group particularly,” Steinke-Attia stated .
The household stated they need Todd to face penalties.
“I simply need justice. I need him to really feel the ache we’re going via and the way a lot he is broken my household, damage all my youngsters,” stated Irene.
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