REGINA – Richelle Dubois isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer from the Regina Police Service.
She believes not all is as it seems in her son’s death that was ruled accidental, and says she’ll camp outside police headquarters until she gets to see a full report on the investigation.
“They think I’ll be happy with the coroner’s report they gave me and I’ll just leave it at that,” Dubois said.
Haven Dubois, 14, was found in an east Regina creek in May 2015. The coroner’s official cause of death, released two weeks ago, was drowning, with marijuana use as a significant contributing factor.
READ MORE: ‘Such a tragic end to a short life’: disbelief over death of Regina teen
Dubois questions which leads police have followed up on.
“We cannot provide her with a copy of the file,” said deputy chief Dean Rae. “We can sit in a room and discuss the file, but a copy will not be provided to Richelle.”
Rae says it could jeopardize the investigation and the privacy of people who have provided tips. Police will only offer an edited summary of what happened.
Racially motivated?
Flanked by members of the Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism on Tuesday morning, Dubois suggests there may be other factors involved.
“I feel I was mistreated. I feel I was given the runaround. I feel I wasn’t taken seriously because I’m First Nation,” Dubois said.
Rae admits the RPS has a “strained relationship” at times with the Aboriginal community, but is working on “establishing and creating a better relationship with all groups.”
“It’s something the Regina Police Service takes pride in, something the Regina Police Service is committed to,” he said.
But police are adhering to policy, Rae says, telling reporters that police files will not be provided without sensitive information being redacted.
Dubois says she’ll remain outside the police service until she’s satisfied with the information she’s provided.
“If this is what I’ve got to do to get a police report, then this is what I’ve got to do.”
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