Questions remain in Kimmirut after 5 arrested, none charged

A Kimmirut man says he's concerned about the actions of RCMP last December, when about 15 officers were sent to the community to arrest five people based on information they were planning to harm police.

Those five peoplewere later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Pauloosie Onalik says his son was one of the men arrested and brought to Iqaluit, but never charged.

"It pissed me off and it concerns me greatly," he says. "I think they were trying to put a message across to the young fellows that they can come and do this whenever they want just based on hearsay."

Onalik says his son was house-sitting for a friend in December when five heavily-armed officers came to arrest him.

"I started hearing that the police were coming down hard on five young Inuit males in town, including my son Jimmy,"Onalik says.

His three other boys were the only ones home.

"Either one or two of them were pointing their weapons at my 18-year-old, thinking he was my son Jimmy."

After spending a night in police custody in Iqaluit, two officers brought Jimmy back home to Kimmirut. Onalik's son has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Threat 'deemed unfounded'

RCMP Inspector Jason Fiddler says officers were acting on information suggesting five people were plotting to harm police, but he admits the information turned out to be wrong.

"A comprehensive investigation into the incident has since been concluded and the threat was actually deemed unfounded as a result."

The RCMP says officers have a responsibility to follow up on threats to the public and police.

"I can't comment on how or why or where we got the information from, but rest assured: the information for us to act on this we deem it credible,"Fiddler says.

Police apologized

"They apologized,"Onalik says. "They brought a turkey."

But Onalik still wants to know what evidence police had, and whether the person who made the accusations will face any consequences.

Fiddler says they will not be charging anyone.

And he says they're working to improve their relationship with the community.