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Mother Questions RCMP Arrest After Son's Death
29 Oct
Summary
- Dominick Moostoos died during an RCMP arrest on James Smith Cree Nation.
- Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team cleared officers of misconduct.
- Family disputes findings, seeking accountability for excessive force.
The mother of Dominick Moostoos, who died during an RCMP arrest on James Smith Cree Nation on April 28, 2025, is challenging the findings of an investigation. Nicole Sanderson remembers her 29-year-old son as a friendly and giving individual, not defined by his death. She disputes the report by the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) that cleared the three Melfort RCMP officers involved.
According to SIRT, officers had lawful grounds to arrest Moostoos under the Mental Health Act following calls about a man discharging bear spray. Moostoos made concerning statements, including that he would "fight to the death," before being arrested. While being handcuffed, he reportedly shouted he was having a heart attack.
Sanderson, however, claims witnesses stated Moostoos was not violent and did not resist. She alleges excessive force was used, with officers allegedly using their knees and elbows. Moostoos became unresponsive, and CPR was initiated before paramedics arrived. The autopsy attributed his death to positional asphyxia and acute methamphetamine and cocaine toxicity.
