Two RCMP officers in Prince George, B.C., have been charged with manslaughter in connection with the 2017 death of an Indigenous man, Crown prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Another three have been charged with attempting to obstruct justice related to the events immediately after Dale Culver's death on July 18, 2017, according to a news release from the B.C. Prosecution Service.
Manslaughter charges have been 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.
Culver, 35, was a member of the Wet'suwet'en and Gitxsan First Nations, according to family members.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C., which investigated Culver's death, has said RCMP were called to the 1000 block of Central Street West after reports of a man "casing vehicles."
Culver reportedly attempted to flee on a bicycle, and a struggle ensued between him and the officers. An IIO report says pepper spray was used against Culver during the arrest, and he was placed in the back of a police cruiser.
Culver started having trouble breathing shortly afterward, and paramedics were called. He collapsed when taken out of the police car and was pronounced dead in hospital shortly after midnight.
A first court appearance for all of the charged officers has been scheduled for March 14.
