The province’s police watchdog has announced it will investigate an incident involving the Halifax Regional Police.
The Serious Incident Response Team have begun investigating the highly publicized and controversial arrest of Santina Rao at a Halifax Walmart last week.
In a release, SIRT says on January 15th, members of the HRP were called to Walmart on Mumford Road to investigate a possible theft complaint, which resulted in an altercation between officers and a woman, resulting in her injury.
Rao, a 23-year-old African Nova Scotian, outlined the incident on social media and to other outlets, saying she was approached by officers who claimed she was stealing items while shopping with her kids.
In a video released of the arrest, Rao can be seen becoming agitated when police tried to cuff her, yelling for them to get off her before being physically taken to the ground.
The incident has had many describe it as racial profiling and has garnered responses from other members of the African Nova Scotian community including former lieutenant-governor Mayann Francis.
As part of its investigation into the incident, SIRT is seeking out witnesses of the event to speak with them.
