A former member of the Prince George RCMP has been placed on eighteen months of probation following a conviction for obstructing justice in a case related to the death of an Indigenous man in 2017. This incident has been seen as a significant assessment of the justice system’s capability to hold law enforcement accountable by civil rights and First Nations groups.
Arthur Dalman was found guilty of instructing a bystander to delete cellphone footage that should have been preserved as evidence after the arrest and subsequent passing of Dale Culver, a 35-year-old Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en individual, on July 18, 2017. During the sentencing, B.C. Provincial Court judge Michael Fortino highlighted the gravity of Dalman’s offense, which poses a threat to the justice system’s integrity by eroding public trust in the police.
Judge Fortino acknowledged Dalman’s junior status within the RCMP at the time, his community contributions, and his departure from the police force as mitigating factors. Had Dalman not been a novice officer at the time of the incident, Fortino stated that imprisonment would have been a likely outcome. The judge also pointed out that Dalman wasn’t the sole RCMP officer to order the deletion of video footage, indicating broader systemic issues in handling the case.
Among the five officers charged in connection with Culver’s arrest and death, Dalman is the only one who has been convicted. The court learned that Dalman, who had been with the RCMP for only a few months, responded to a call for assistance near a Prince George auto-mall, where Culver had already been detained following an altercation with multiple officers. Culver passed away in police custody less than half an hour after his arrest.
During the aftermath, Dalman engaged in a confrontation with a bystander filming the police instead of securing the scene, attempting to seize the phone displaying the video. Judge Fortino emphasized the seriousness of Dalman’s actions, noting their impact on public trust in the RCMP. The judge highlighted that obstructing justice, regardless of the officer’s rank, undermines accountability and trust in the justice system.
The Crown sought a six-month prison term for Dalman, while the defense proposed a 12-month conditional discharge to avoid a criminal record after probation. Judge Fortino deemed these sentences inadequate for the severity of the offense, emphasizing the need for a dissuasive message. Despite the impact on the investigation into Culver’s death, Fortino believed imprisonment wasn’t necessary for justice.
Following the sentencing, Culver’s family expressed the enduring impact of the case. Lily Speed-Namox, Culver’s daughter, emphasized the attempt to conceal the events of that night, calling out the culture of protecting police within the RCMP. Debbie Pierre, Culver’s cousin, highlighted how the obstruction prolonged their suffering and delayed justice, vowing to advocate for systemic change.
The National Police Federation criticized the sentencing, arguing that Dalman’s brief service time and strong record were not fully considered. They also raised concerns about the lengthy period between the offense and sentencing, impacting all parties involved. President Brian Sauvé stressed the importance of timely and equitable processes for all affected.