B.C. Mountie convicted of obstruction in case of Dale Culver

Dale Culver died in 2017 after an encounter with Prince George RCMP. Photo: APTN News

APTN News: A B.C. RCMP officer has been found guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the arrest that preceded the death of Dale Culver.

Culver, who was Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en, died in Prince George RCMP custody in 2017.

Initially, five Mounties were charged, but on Thursday B.C. provincial court Judge Adrian Brooks ruled Const. Arthur Dalman was guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the arrest of Culver. Co-accused Sgt. Jon Cruz was acquitted.

Charges against the other three, one of whom was also accused of ordering a witness to delete a video of the incident while two others were accused of manslaughter, were stayed by Crown prosecutors.

Dale Culver’s family expresses dismay at delayed RCMP misconduct hearing

Culver, 35, was arrested in Prince George on July 18, 2017. Police suspected him of “casing vehicles” and deployed pepper spray while struggling to take him into custody, according to the Independent Investigations Office of BC.

Culver had trouble breathing and died about 30 minutes later.

“We have very mixed feelings about this decision,” said Debbie Pierre, cousin of Dale Culver, in a statement issued by the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs following the judge’s decision.

“We are outraged that Cruz has been acquitted, but Dalman’s guilty verdict brings us some hope.”

Pierre continued: “This is only one step in our pursuit of justice for Dale. Our family has endured immense ongoing trauma for seven years, and we are determined to see all officers who (allegedly) played a role in the death of Dale face accountability. Indigenous people must have faith that justice can be served, and we will not stop fighting until that becomes a reality.”

A coalition of Indigenous and legal organizations, including Culver’s family and the Gitanyow Chiefs, called on the BC Prosecution Service to reconsider staying the criminal charges.

Judith Sayers, a chief, lawyer and director of the BC First Nations Justice Council, said Dalman’s conviction provided a “small measure of justice” to the Culver family.

“We hope Mr. Dalman receives the sentencing he is due without delay,” Sayers said in a statement, “and we hope this will deter other police officers from engaging in dishonourable and criminal conduct.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated on 27/07/24 to add a comment from the BC First Nations Justice Council