A video allegedly showed an RCMP officer sexually harassing an Indigenous teen. Then it went missing. Inside allegations of misconduct and cover-up in Canada’s national police force.
This is an archived clip from April 9, 2019.
It is alleged that a constable came to a party on one of the reserve in Manitoba. He had a few beers and got to chatting with the female host. As it became clear they were in a sexual relationship, the constable allegedly followed her into the house. He told her he would watch her shower. A few times the alleged sex offender also threatened to send his wife.
In January, the woman, who was 16 years old at the time, told the RCMP she would not continue the relationship. The RCMP has since said sexual harassment is a “low priority” for it.
The woman’s brother, Kevin MacLachlan, has since started a Facebook page — the Truth About Abuse-Indigenous RCMP — where he says he and other Indigenous men have been sexually harassed by RCMP.
The Truth About Abuse-Indigenous RCMP is a public Facebook page where Indigenous men have gone to talk about sexual misconduct in the RCMP. (Truth About Abuse-Indigenous RCMP Facebook)
MacLachlan says he had his own troubles with the force.
“I was having a very hard time at home. I had a boyfriend that wanted to leave me. And then the RCMP started to harass me like that,” he said.
He says his relationship with his father had fallen apart — he was never allowed to see him. He says he was having problems with addiction before he met his “girlfriend.”
The RCMP says the allegations against the constable are false.
The RCMP has said it is not possible to screen alleged sexual harassers, and that it takes “a significant number of complaints” before one reaches a decision on whether to charge, let alone whether to launch an investigation or file a criminal charge.
The fact that the alleged victim in the video is Indigenous makes the case even more egregious.
“There have been a number
