Kahtou 0004
Sept. 2000

SASKATOON (CP) - Two city police officers accused of abandoning a native man on the outskirts of the city last winter will face separate preliminary hearings. Constables Daniel Hatchen, 38, and Kenneth Charles Munson, 43, were charged with unlawful confinement and assault after Darrell Night claimed he was dropped off at a power station south of the city on a cold January night and told to find his own way home.

Munson's hearing begins Sept. 11. Hatchen's will get under way Oct. 2. Bill Roe, Hatchen's defence lawyer, accused the Crown of trying to pit one officer against the other by separating their hearings. "They're not distinct cases," Roe said outside the courthouse where pre-trial hearings were held Monday. "It's a tactical decision by the Crown so they can potentially call one officer against the other at the preliminary inquiry."

The Crown expects to call six to eight witnesses - including police chief Dave Scott and deputy chief Dan Wiks - at both preliminary hearings. "It's just like every other investigation," Scott said. "Not a problem." Both Scott and Wiks spoke with the officers when the allegations from Night first surfaced. Scott subsequently suspended Hatchen and Munson.

On Friday, Nancy Hopkins, head of the Saskatchewan Police Commission, ruled the officers should be suspended with pay until the matter is resolved. Prior to the ruling, Hatchen and Munson had been off the city payroll. Hopkins also left it to Scott to decide whether the two officers will be reinstated during the court process. On Monday, Scott said he won't make such a decision until after the preliminary hearings. "I'm simply going to maintain my position," Scott said. "Based on facts, I will make decisions."

Following the preliminary hearing, a provincial court judge will decide if enough evidence exists to proceed to a trial in Court of Queen's Bench. Meanwhile, an RCMP investigation into several other cases involving native men and the Saskatoon city police is continuing. The task force is investigating two cases in which men died within hours of being released from police custody.

Another case involves a man who alleges officers tried to drown him in the South Saskatchewan River. Staff Sgt. Rick Wychreschuk said 15 officers are still working on the cases but it could be some time before the probe is wrapped up.

(Saskatoon StarPhoenix)