Latest news with #SaskatoonPolice
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
U of R professor found liable of defamation for calling a book ‘racist garbage'
Image is file of McLean reading her book. A University of Regina professor has been found liable for defamation after calling a book critical of the Neil Stonechild inquiry 'racist garbage.' The book's author, Candis McLean, filed the lawsuit eight years ago. Justice Neil Robertson issued his written decision on June 13 at the Regina Court of King's Bench. 'I'm absolutely thrilled to get this decision,' McLean said in an interview with CTV News. McLean's 2016 book, When Police Become Prey: The Cold, Hard Facts of Neil Stonechild's Freezing Death, challenged the findings of the inquiry into Stonechild's death. The inquiry concluded the 17-year-old from Saulteaux First Nation was taken into custody by two Saskatoon police officers on the night he froze to death in November 1990. The book claims to clear the names of the two officers who were fired from the Saskatoon Police Service as part of the broader 'Starlight Tours' scandal, where police were accused of dropping Indigenous people on the outskirts of the city in freezing temperatures. When McLean planned book signings in Saskatchewan, they were met with backlash from the Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism. University of Regina professor Michelle Stewart was among those opposed, urging venues to cancel the signings. She also called the book 'racist garbage' on Facebook. In his ruling, Justice Robertson found Stewart made the post without reading the book. 'Having read the book, I do not find that it is racist,' he wrote. He added that while the comment targeted the book, the term 'racist' could reasonably be associated with its author. 'If a reasonable person believed that the book was racist, they might then believe that the author was as well,' Robertson said. He noted that 'racist' is a 'highly charged word' and should not be 'thrown around carelessly.' Stewart was also found liable for inducing a breach of contract by contacting venues and urging them to cancel McLean's events. McLean sought $165,642 in damages. The court awarded her $6,450, including $1,000 in general damages for defamation, $3,000 for inducing breach of contract, and $2,450 in actual damages related to the cancellations. She was not awarded any additional special, aggravated or punitive damages. McLean said while she's 'disappointed' with the amount, her lawyer reminded her they were fighting for 'the principle of free speech.' 'I'm hoping that the activists will now realize there are limits to their behavior,' she said. 'They deserve freedom of speech, but not to the point where it impinges on others.' CTV News reached out to Stewart and her lawyer but did not get a response by publication.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
‘Let's take some responsibility': Saskatoon detective advocates for more surveillance cameras around the city
WATCH: Police are using security camera footage more than ever in their investigations, and a Saskatoon police detective says if you want to help fight crime, t The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is increasingly using video surveillance to help solve crimes in our city and a lead detective in charge of a high-profile murder case is asking community members, businesses and organizations to do their part. Surveillance footage shared by police in a recent call for tips in a murder investigation is the type of evidence homicide detective Sergeant Matt Ingrouille wants to see more of, stressing that video like this should be more readily available. He's the detective in the case of a man fatally beaten behind Fairhaven School just over a year ago. So far, it's being considered a random attack. Harvey Zoerb Police are hopeful that somebody in one of those videos is key to figuring out who murdered 66-year-old Harvey Zoerb, who lived in a nearby group home because of a mental illness. (Source: Saskatoon Police Service) Ingrouille, a 20-year SPS veteran thinks the early investigation could've gone very differently under different circumstances — had there been a security camera on the parking lot behind the Fairhaven School where 66-year-old Harvey Zoerb was fatally beaten on his morning walk to the nearby 7-11 in June 2024. 'This is the 21st century. It's cheap to store video. It's cheap to get cameras. Let's take some responsibility of the crime that's happening in and around our owned businesses or our owned organizations,' Ingrouille told CTV News. 'If we had a camera on that school, it would have caught this entire incident,' he said. Ingrouille says if people want to help improve community safety, putting up their own surveillance cameras is a vital way to contribute. 'I think that crime is a community issue and that we all have a responsibility to play,' he said. 'Yes, the police are the ones that ultimately, you know, put the actual effort in and are paid to get out there and try to solve these crimes.' Saskatoon Public Schools says cameras aren't installed at all of facilities, and the condition of the equipment varies widely. 'Some of our elementary schools have working cameras, some have camera systems that require system upgrades, and some of our elementary schools have no cameras. There is currently no exterior camera at Fairhaven School,' said Colleen Cameron, Saskatoon Public Schools spokesperson. Saskatoon surveillance Fairhaven School, where Harvey Zoerb was attacked in June 2024, does not have exterior security cameras. (Carla Shynkaruk / CTV News) Students attending public schools are supervised inside and on school grounds. Stephen Gabrush with Syntex Technologies has looked after many school camera systems over the years. 'Cameras are a great tool for the security tool kit for any sort of a business or any sort of an organization. But for them to operate properly, they do need to be maintained, and they do need to be updated to keep up with technology in the long term,' Gabrush, told CTV News. Saskatoon Public says it's committed to expanding its surveillance network. 'We have identified that expanding our interior and exterior camera network would be beneficial in ensuring the safety of staff, students, and school division property. This would require significant additional capital and operating funds. We've estimated this cost at $1.5 million capital and $135,000 annual operating (maintenance, licensing, etc.).' Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools spokesperson Derreck Kunz told CTV News; their schools have cameras at all seven of their high schools and 27 of 38 elementary schools in the city. 'Any new schools or major renovations will have security cameras,' said Kunz. Sergeant Ingrouille would like to see those working camera numbers improved for everyone's safety.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
Saskatoon driver charged after fleeing traffic stop in burning sports car
A Saskatoon Police Service badge is shown on an officer's uniform in Saskatoon on Friday, May 5, 2023. Police in Saskatoon are reporting a rather unusual case that saw them catch their suspect -- but lose their car. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Police in Saskatoon say the owner of a sports car that caught fire on Friday night while officers were trying to stop it for speeding had reportedly only bought the vehicle a few hours earlier. In a post on X Monday , Saskatoon police said the driver was seen speeding in the 4000 block of Taylor Street East Friday evening when officers attempted a traffic stop. Police say the driver fled, and officers noted smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. Eventually, he pulled over and jumped out of the burning car. While he tried to flee by hopping fences, he ended up jumping in front of patrol officers who were waiting on the other side. Officers were concerned about the proximity of the burning car to homes in the area and used up two fire extinguishers before Saskatoon Fire arrived and put the fire out. The 24-year-old driver faces charges that include impaired driving, evading police and breach of conditions. -With Canadian Press files
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Explosive device found inside vehicle at Saskatoon salvage compound
A Saskatoon Police Service badged is shown onto an officers' uniform in Saskatoon, Sask., on Friday, May 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Saskatoon police say members of its explosive disposal unit located an 'explosive device' on Friday morning at an automotive salvage compound. Around 9:45 a.m. police were called to the scene on the 100 block of English Crescent after receiving a report of an explosive device that was found in a salvaged vehicle. In a news release Saskatoon police said it confirmed that the device was a commercial grade explosive. Businesses in the area were advised to shelter in place. The explosive disposal unit secured the explosive device and seized it for destruction without incident, the release said. Saskatoon police say officers then cleared the scene a short time later and lifted the shelter-in-place order soon after.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- CTV News
Saskatoon police release new video in homicide investigation
Police are hopeful that somebody in one of those videos is key to figuring out who murdered 66-year-old Harvey Zoerb, who lived in a nearby group home because of a mental illness. (Source: Saskatoon Police Service) One year after 66-year-old Harvey Zoerb's death in a Fairhaven park, Saskatoon police have released a new video in a bid to gather information and identify the suspects responsible. Releasing this type of video at this stage in an investigation is not common for police. 'We're hoping to gather some tips, some information, maybe some witnesses that we currently don't know exist, come forward, maybe some witnesses that we've already spoken to,' Sergeant Matt Ingrouille with the Saskatoon Police Service's homicide unit told CTV News. The detective on the case says the video is being shared because the violent nature of the attack and the amount of blood involved mean police are hoping the footage might jog someone's memory. 'If anybody can think of somebody who mentioned seeing something, somebody having to change their clothes, blood-soaked clothes or wash their hands - having a sense of urgency,' he said. The new video shared has footage from numerous security cameras in the area because there was a lot of activity that night and early morning. Saskatoon police release new video in homicide investigation The new video shared has footage from numerous security cameras in the area because there was a lot of activity that night and early morning. (Source: Saskatoon Police Service) Police are hopeful that somebody in one of those videos is key to figuring out who murdered the 66-year-old, who lived in a nearby group home because of a mental illness. 'I do think that it's reasonable for us to suspect that our person of interest or our suspects are somewhere contained in this video footage,' Ingrouille said. The one area that didn't have cameras was the playground area, which the detective says could've made all the difference in finding who killed Zoerb. The video also shows a drawing of the weapon found at the scene. It was a metal bar, which was taken to scientists at the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan to analyze. 'Nothing is off the table. There is no technique that I am unwilling to try. We will do whatever it takes to try to solve this case.' Meanwhile, the president of the Fairhaven Community Association admits once this crime is solved, the neighbourhood will be a little more at ease. 'I noticed the park is not being used anymore. There used to be kids in here all the time, and the ballparks over here are dead. They're probably the nicest ballparks in the city, and they're not being rented out,' Fred Graver said. Since the video was released Tuesday night, Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) has received numerous calls about the case. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Saskatoon police or crime stoppers.
