The former head of Ontario's police watchdog is questioning the force a Thompson RCMP officer used against a First Nations man, who was punched twice by the officer after throwing a hat at him. Jeremiah Dumont-Fontaine punched 50-year-old Brian Halcrow twice after Halcrow threw a hat at him following an altercation outside the Thompson Inn in June of 2019. A statement by Dumont-Fontaine said the hat hit him and that "fearing further assault," the officer punched Halcrow twice and arrested him. This is not the first time the IIU has taken law enforcement to court to gain access to an officer's notes. He hopes part of the proposed changes to the Act will included ending the protection of police officer's notes.

Source: CBC News March 02, 2021 10:52 UTC