In a significant decision on June 3, 2025, Judge Adrian Brooks denied an application by RCMP Constable Arthur Dalman, who sought to delay proceedings in the case of Dale Culver. Dalman, convicted last summer of obstructing justice by instructing witnesses to delete cellphone footage after Culver’s violent arrest, had argued his Charter rights were breached. Judge Brooks’ dismissal of the challenge allows the case to move forward with sentencing set for later this month.
Dale Culver, a 35-year-old Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan man, died on July 18, 2017, after being violently arrested by RCMP officers in Prince George for riding his bicycle without a helmet. Following the incident, Culver was pepper-sprayed, punched, kicked, and died of breathing complications shortly after. Despite charges against five officers, only Dalman was convicted.
The family of Dale Culver, who had waited nearly six years for accountability, expressed mixed emotions. Lily Speed-Namox, Culver’s daughter, emphasized the importance of accountability, noting how long the family had waited for justice. Debbie Pierre, his cousin, called for systemic change to protect Indigenous lives, and Latoya Farrell from the BC Civil Liberties Association reiterated the need for stronger police oversight in Canada.
