Eastern Door Volume 7 Number 13

Volume 7 Number 13

April 24, 1998

Young man shot in dispute
Violent crimes seem to be on the rise in the community
By: Tom Dearhouse

A neighbour's dispute that occurred Thursday morning at a Clay Mountain residence escalated into a more serious matter when a local female, 18 or 19 years old, shot a twenty-six year old Kahnawake man in the leg using a small caliber weapon.

Gary Keith Stacey, 26, sustained a single entry wound, just above his right knee, not considered life-threatening. He was transported by ambulance to Montreal General Hospital.

Both suspect and victim were detained following the incident.

Police say the incident took place around 4:30 a.m. PK investigators were at the house most of the morning removing evidence.

PK investigators were in court later that day to learn the extent of charges. As of press time, PK Chief Warren Lahache said the Crown is reviewing all charges, and names and further details can not be released by them as the proceedings will take longer than anticipated.

The parents of Stacey were inclined not to comment further until they gained more facts from their son, police and the courts.

The large white house on the south side of Clay Mountains Road is divided into two dwellings: one basement apartment and another apartment on the main floor. One source said loud TV noise was coming from the dwelling upstairs, which was disturbing to those resident below. PKs were called at about 1:30 a.m. and the noise was reduced at a PK patrol's request but events afterwards are sketchy.

At about 4:30 a.m. the PKs received a call about a shooting and found Stacey wounded in the leg, apparently the result of a dispute between the two tenants. All other details were not available.

Escalation in violence

Prior to this shooting incident, Gary Keith Stacey had run-ins with Christine Delormier, 18, as outlined in a Peacekeeper file. Delormier stabbed Stacey in the side requiring medical attention in the hospital.

It's acknowledged by police that Delormier, since turning of age, has a record of offenses, although her juvenile records are sealed and do not weigh against her in Longueuil court.

Delormier is forbidden to be in Kahnawake as a result of her involvement in a beating at Saylor's Kahnawake Market Saturday, April 18. According to one source, three girls jumped out of a car and targeted one girl.

Delormier assaulted a minor, smashing a beer bottle in her face, counting as one charged. In a second related charge, byt he PKs, she threatened a witness not to say or tell anyone anything of this Saturday night's assault.

Another girl is scheduled to appear in juvenile court.

The police, along with members of the community, are watching Delormier's violent actions concerned that she is putting people into the hospital.

Friday night fight

A fight took place between youths Friday night that left a young man with 50 stitches needed to stop the bleeding. The incident took place in front of the victims house where he was accosted by more than one youth.

Apparently, kicks and blows learned in a martial arts discipline did the damage. Police could not reveal the minors involved, but could say the file would come under review of Kahnawake Social Services and possible charges laid under the Young Offenders Act.

Community members are becoming more alarmed at the seemingly high rate of violent incidents that are taking place within our community. Peacekeepers are asking the public to report any suspicious activity that might be leading up to a confrontation.

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Cigarette Crackdown Puts Pressure on Kahnawake
By: Kenneth Deer

The Surete du Quebec have requested the assistance of the Kahnawake Peacekeepers in their crackdown on contraband cigarettes but the Peacekeepers have said this is a political matter and will not take part in search and seizures in Kahnawake.

"We were notified by the SQ on Friday, April 17, that they will be carrying out an operation in the Montreal area that may include Kahnawake and they asked for our cooperation. I told them I will get back to them," said Warren Lahache, Chief Peacekeeper. Lahache then sought legal advice before responding.

"We informed them verbally on Wednesday, April 22, that we will not participate in any search or seizure in any operation by the SQ, We sent the written statement today (Thursday) to the SQ and the Minister of Public Security," said Lahache

"We consider this a political matter and have referred it to the Liaison Committee created under the Policing Agreement," said Lahache.

The Committee, a form of complaint process, consists of representatives of Kahnawake, the Quebec Minister of Public Security and Canada's Solicitor General's office. Arnold Goodleaf and Mike Bush represent Kahnawake.

"The SQ are well aware of this complaint process but we feel that they are using the press to undermine the credibility of the Peacekeepers," said Lahache.

"The SQ are being very selective in the application of the law. When we had a problem with tax fraud over the sale of cars, the issue was sent to Revenue Quebec because it was a tax issue. The same should apply to the tax issue with cigarettes but instead of referring it to Revenue Quebec for a political solution, the SQ are taking the issue in another direction. We will be making this complaint to the Liaison Committee," said Lahache.

The Peacekeepers have no problem cooperating with investigations regarding stolen goods, drugs, etc., but tax issues are of a political nature and will refer them to the political entities responsible said Lahache.

SQ press conference

The SQ held a press conference on Thursday and reported that they visited 196 cigarette outlets in the Montreal area. The object was to identify the owners of the establishments and get information on their dossiers. No arrests or seizures were made.

The SQ determined that 12, 860 cases of cigarettes came from one store in Kahnawake and were distributed to various stores in the Montreal area. No tax from the sale of these cigarettes were ever turned over to the province. The loss of revenue is estimated at $2,470,000. The 217 individuals involved, committed over 2,500 infractions and fines could total $5 million.

More people could be implicated later.

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Editorial

Stop the violence
By: Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door

Violence in the community of Kahnawake has been taking a severe turn for the worst. It may be just be an unfortunate rash of incidents but there seems to be a high number of fights this spring, more than in past years. And we shouldn't ignore this violence.

It happens every spring when the warm weather comes around that our young people begin walking and cruising the streets. There is always the rite of spring when teenagers scuffle with each other like young bulls in a meadow, testing their strength and showing off for the opposite sex.

But this kind of physical bravado is vastly different from the type of confrontations that we have seen lately. Today we see our youth actually trying to hurt and permanently maim their victims. This is no longer a game or a contest but a violent crime.

When our young people are jumped on by one or more assailants and have bottles broken on their heads leading to severe injuries, where will this violence end up? This week a young adult was allegedly shot in a dispute with his neighbor. Will the next violent episode end up with someone being killed?

Is that what it will take for people to realize that we have a problem in Kahnawake with violence?

There is a definite link between violence and the use of alcohol and drugs. Where you find violence, generally some one has been out of control and under the influence of one drug or another.

Another form of violence is the intimidation of others just for the sake of spreading fear, like the 'taxing' of individuals by groups or gangs who feel tough when in large numbers.

All of these types of violent behaviour is a sign of our lack of self control and self discipline. And perhaps a lack of discipline by parents who don't know what their children are up too.

Parents should drive around town in the evening and see where their children are hanging out. They may find them in the Kateri School yard or in front of our grocery stores where much of the trouble seems to start.

We've got to stop the violence from escalating any more than it has and we must reduce the violence that already exists. The young people have to understand that their own well being and perhaps their very lives are at stake.

Deja vu and cigarettes

All the publicity in the press lately over the issue of cigarettes brings back memories of 1988. At that time there were a number of articles in the press about contraband cigarettes for sale in Kahnawake. And the suspicion was that the government was using the press to prepare the public for a large raid on Kahnawake.

The same seems to be happening here. The SQ seems to be trying to criminalize the Mohawks and discredit the Peacekeepers. A sure sign that something's afoot.

We can only hope that the Quebec Minister of Public Security uses his head and sees this as a political issue and not a situation that can be solved with a massive police intervention in Kahnawake.

Cooler heads have to prevail on both sides. There is no telling what could happen if excessive force is used again.

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