Vehicle hits cyclist at downtown protest about woman fatally struck by police cruiser Victim of fatal police hit 'had such a kind heart' By: Nicole Buffie Posted: 12:27 PM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 4, 2024 Last Modified: 3:17 PM CDT Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 Updates

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This article was published 04/09/2024 (779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A protest at Portage and Main Wednesday, to denounce the death of an Indigenous woman who was fatally struck by a police cruiser, was the scene of violence as officers stayed back from the intersection at the request of demonstrators.

The Winnipeg Police Service said officers “were strategically placed out of view” of the intersection, which had been shut down by about 100 people beginning during the noon hour. The rally was called to mark the death of Tammy Bateman, a homeless woman in her 30s who died after being struck by a police vehicle at the Fort Rouge Park riverside homeless encampment Monday night.

About 20 minutes after the protest began, a driver in a Chrysler New Yorker tried to drive north on Main Street at Portage Avenue, but was blocked by several protesters. The motorist drove through the blockade and struck a cyclist who was blocking the way. The bike was dragged by the vehicle.

Several protesters, who wore vests emblazoned with “Crazy Indians Brotherhood,” jumped on the vehicle and kicked its windshield. Another demonstrator jumped in the passenger side of the vehicle. As the male driver accelerated through the blockade, the protesters fell off and out of the car.

The man was heard saying, “I don’t know what’s going on,” as protesters tried to pull him from the vehicle and punched him in the face.

The female cyclist, who declined to be named but referred reporters to the advocacy group Critical Mass Winnipeg, said she was at the protest to support the calls for justice for Bateman.

Police issued a news release later in the day that said officers had purposely not parked cruisers right at the intersection. Police vehicles were seen blocking some lanes leading to the intersection, but some remained open to traffic.

“As a form of de-escalation and at the request of organizers, resources were strategically placed out of view, in proximity to Portage Avenue and Main Street. Vehicle access to the intersection was limited, and motorists who reached the location turned away when they observed the protest.”

After the confrontation, police questioned the driver, and later, the vehicle was towed away.

Police said the cyclist declined to receive medical attention or have “further police involvement.” Police said all other protesters involved in the violent incident left before officers arrived.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing, police said.

After the incident, protesters, who were clad in red and held drums and flags, continued to circle around Portage and Main as they called for justice for Bateman.

Police said Tuesday that Bateman was fatally hit by a police cruiser as officers were returning a man to an encampment along the riverbank shortly before 9:30 p.m. Monday. The province’s police watchdog, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, was summoned to investigate the death.

Lori Bateman pleaded for answers from police about the circumstances of her sister’s death.

“I want justice for my sister,” she said at the protest. “My sister had such a kind heart, and she struggled a lot, so I’m here to represent her.”

Bateman, who was originally from Roseau River First Nation, was adopted when she was a baby after her biological parents died, her sister told the Free Press.

Tammy and Lori grew up in a blended family of 11 children. When Bateman was a teenager, she dealt with mental health issues and substance abuse, which led her to leave home and live on the streets.

She has two young children who were taken into foster care and later adopted, Bateman said.

Despite her hardships, Bateman made people smile and had a warm, positive disposition, her sister said.

“She had a hard life, but she did not deserve this whatsoever,” a tearful Bateman said.

Andrew Desjarlais, who the Free Press spoke to Tuesday evening and referred to himself as Bateman’s father, said Bateman was trying to secure housing and finish her high school diploma.

Desjarlais was later identified as a father figure to Bateman, not her biological or adoptive father, by Lori Bateman.

The protest later moved to police headquarters on Smith Street, where the group lit a ceremonial fire.

Demonstrators painted red handprints on the windows of police headquarters while chanting “no justice, no peace” and “we want answers.”

“These are people’s lives we’re dealing with. Where are our leaders?” community advocate Barb Guimond said to the crowd.

“Where are they?” the crowd responded.

“She had a hard life, but she did not deserve this whatsoever.”–Lori Bateman, victim’s sister

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs called for a thorough investigation of Bateman’s death and more oversight of the Independent Investigation Unit and its investigations into police-involved incidents.

The watchdog is composed of an investigative wing that’s staffed primarily with former police officers.

“Too often, the IIU has failed to hold police accountable for their role in the deaths of our people,” Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said in a news release.

“What took place Monday night is not a set of tragic circumstances, and it is hard to see this most recent situation as anything other than police involvement leading to the loss of life.”

On Tuesday, acting police chief Art Stannard held a news conference to announce the incident. “It’s tragic. It’s tragic,” he said, adding the officers in the cruiser were “devastated” by what had happened.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca