Manitoba RCMP says officers in Shamattawa First Nation have been repeatedly assaulted and the detachment has been targeted for arson over the last ten months,

 

A press release from the police agency details three incidents, one of which occurred last April when an officer was beaten by a group of people they were keeping away from a house fire in the community.

 

The group, comprised of 11 to 14 year-olds, were said to have disregarded a warning from officers to keep away from the fire and were arrested in the interest of safety.

 

While the arrests were occurring, the group surrounded an officer and began to kick and punch them, with the officer sustaining injuries.

 

The group was dispersed and those in custody were taken to the detachment, at which time three youths outside of the building doused the front steps with flammable fluid in an attempt to light the detachment on fire.

 

Three suspects, aged 11, 12, and 13, were all arrested and the fire was put out.

 

RCMP says it’s believed intoxicants played a role in the incident.