ASIRT investigating injury to handcuffed woman at Gleichen RCMP detachment

An RCMP cruiser. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton)

Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating after a woman was injured while in RCMP custody.

The incident happened in Gleichen, about 80 kilometres east of Calgary, on Oct. 30, after the woman was arrested for mischief.

“On being arrested, the female had visible blood on her face and said she had been beaten up,” the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) said in a news release. “An officer told her that emergency medical services (EMS) would be called.”

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Mounties then took the woman to the Gleichen detachment, arriving at about 10 p.m.

ASIRT says an officer walked the woman to a cell. Her hands were handcuffed behind her at the time.

“The officer repeatedly asked the female to remove her shoes and the female responded by swearing and asking for an ambulance,” ASIRT said. “The female then turned away from the officer. The officer grabbed her arm and kicked her legs out from under her. The female hit the ground with her face.”

Paramedics arrived a short time later.

ASIRT says the woman’s injuries include a cut on her upper lip and a lost tooth.

The group will now investigate the use of force and determine if there was any police misconduct.