Reports Indigenous women were abused by retired police officer never led to charges, Viens Commission hears

Several Indigenous women living in Val-d'Or, Que., toldinvestigators they were sexually assaulted, or were paid to provide sexual favours, by a retired provincial police officer.

The allegations followed a2016 investigation byMontrealpolice, who were called in to follow up on reports that women were being abused in the community, more than 500 kilometres north of Montreal.

Investigators shared the results of their work with the Viens Commission on Thursday, which resumed its hearings in Val-d'Or after breaking for the summer.

The commission was launched in 2016 to investigatehow Indigenous people are treated by public services in Quebec, after Radio-Canada's investigative program Enqute reported on allegations by several Indigenous women that they had been mistreated by police officers in Val-d'Or.

Woman said she 'feared for her life'

Det.-Sgt. Brigitte Dufresne, of the SPVM,said a woman who came forward said that a retired policeofficer, referred to as "Number 37'' by the inquiry, sexually assaulted her.

The alleged victim, whose identity was not disclosed during the hearing, said the officer picked her up at a corner store in 2008.

She said after eatingcandy he had in the car, she"lostcontrol of her body."

The man allegedly droveher to a set oftrain tracks "to watch the sunset" and thenattacked her, the woman said. When she woke up, she said her clothes were torn off.

She later remembered "being choked and beaten," and said she was "fearingfor her life."

In a police photo lineup, the womanidentified a photo of the retired police officer without hesitation.

"She was 100 per cent sure," said Dufresne.

'Blue Cabin'

A nurse who met with the woman in the weeks following the alleged incident told investigators she showed signs of post-traumatic stress, and had signsof violence on her body.

The nurse also told police that several Indigenous women she was in touch withknew about "Number 37."

"It was a well-known factamong sex trade workers that a retired police officer liked to dress the girls up in his uniform and take photos of them,"Dufresnetold the commission.

After investigating the allegations, police found a "blue cabin"that matched descriptions provided by the alleged victim and other witnesses.

The manin question was never arrested, butdid speak briefly with another police investigator.

Dufresne said "Number 37" denied the allegations, saying "he had never had sex with an Indigenous woman."

He said hehad at times given rides to Indigenous people, "but never if they were drunk or high."

The case was transferred to the Crown prosecutor, but no charges were laid "because of contradictions" in the case, Dufresnesaid.

Few charges laid

Of the 38 cases that were examined in 2016, onlytwo led to charges being filed againstretired police officers who had worked inSchefferville, Que.

Alain Juneauof theSretduQubec and Jean-LucVollant ofSchefferville'sIndigenous police forcewere both charged with sex-related crimes.

Juneau was found dead in his home months later, on Jan. 1, 2017.

Vollant is still awaiting trial. The charges against him are related to eventsalleged to haveoccurredin the1980s.

The ViensCommission's hearings will continue Fridayin Val-d'Or.