SASKATOON — Utterly disgusting were the words the family of Boden Umpherville could only describe how police officers from the Prince Albert Police Service handled a traffic stop involving Boden Umpherville early this month.
Umpherville’s family and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said PAPS officers used excessive force after he and his companions were stopped on April 1, Saturday, in the 1100 block of 13th Street West in Prince Albert.
According to PAPS, the traffic stop happened at 2:23 a.m. with the police officers stopped the car that Umpherville was driving as part of a stolen vehicle report investigation. One of his companions was the car’s registered owner and said she never filed a stolen vehicle report.
Three videos, which circulated on social media and were also given to FSIN, of the incident showed police officers deploying conducted energy weapons and physically striking Umpherville several times. They also used pepper spray and a baton while a K9 unit was at the scene.
“My brother never deserved any of this. No human being deserved what my brother went through. He was a good man. He is still alive, still on a machine and still with us. But I am just disgusted with the police force for what they did to my brother,” said Darry Umpherville.
Darry was accompanied by their mother Verna, his partner Linette Bear, one of their close relatives Chase Sinclair and friend Val Dubois, and FSIN Second Vice Chief Dutch Lerat, who holds the Justice Commission portfolio in the Executive.
Witnesses said Umpherville did not receive immediate medical attention when he collapsed and officers left him in handcuffs on the ground. His heart also stopped beating for about 20 minutes before being revived.
As a result of the excessive physical force used on Umpherville, he is in a hospital on life support with no brain activity, where doctors informed the family that his body continues to function due to a still-working brain stream.
The physicians also believed that the 20 minutes when Umpherville’s heart stopped beating added to his current condition. His family will soon decide to take Umpherville out of his life support, and the 40-year-old is expected to die.
“I do not know what else I can say. I am just disgusted with what happened… He [Boden] is a father. He is my brother. He is an uncle. He was a youth worker and is changing his life,” added Darry, holding back his tears.
Their mother, Verna, could not contain her emotions, saying no mother need not experience the anguish she is feeling right now seeing her son’s condition. She recalled the good times their family had spent with Boden.
“He loves playing basketball. He was changing his life. I hope this never happens to any mother of what I am going through. This should have never happened to my son. I do not know why. It is so sad and my heart is broken,” said Verna.
“I do not understand. They [police officers] should not be working. I do not know why they are working today. I do not think they should be working in public in PA. They are going to be accountable for their actions.”
Lerat said the Provincial Serious Incident Response Team had launched an investigation into what happened and received a report from the officers that a loaded handgun was found at the scene.
“SIRT immediately identified nine officers and immediately placed them on leave for one week to create the timeline and [keep their] distance from the public and the members,” said Lerat, FSIN’s liaison to the RCMP and other policing authorities.
“The officers are back on the front providing professional service to Prince Albert and our First Nations members. There has been no comment from the administration of the police service or from any justice system actors who have the authority over the service.”
Community Volunteer
Sinclair said that Boden grabbed the opportunity of becoming a youth worker in the Prince Albert community when he was given a chance to do so, where he became an inspiration to the younger generation by helping them make the right choices in their lives.
“He continued working even when he did not have an employment title. His job was basically to inspire youth to change. Using his own stories [experiences] to help better people's lives,” said Sinclair, who considered Boden and Darry his brothers.
“To not make the same decisions some people make or are forced to be in. He was a leader. A good leader that was taken too soon. As far as changing his life, he had a good life where he was going upwards and it was taken from him.”
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