Canadian indigenous chief Allan Adam battered by police during arrest

Video of incident described as ‘shocking’ by Justin Trudeau and raises questions over racism in Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Video showing Canadian police repeatedly punching a prominent indigenous leader as they arrest him has been described as “shocking” by prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Allan Adam is seen being thrown to the ground and hit several times across the face by an officer in the incendiary footage.

The violence, meted out after the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation chief was stopped because of an expired number plate, has caused outrage across the country and raised questions about institutional racism in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It comes amid a series of anti-racism protests which have spread from the US where demonstrators have been demanding justice for George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while being arrested by a white police officer.

The incident involving Mr Adam occurred in the car park of a casino in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on 10 March.

The dash-cam footage was only made public on Thursday after his lawyers filed it for a court hearing in which the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation chief is facing charges of resisting arrest and assaulting police.

Mr Trudeau has now called for an independent investigation into the incident.

“We have all now seen the shocking video of Chief Adam’s arrest, and we must get to the bottom of this,” he said. “I have serious questions about what happened.

“We also know that this is not an isolated incident. Far too many black Canadians and indigenous people do not feel safe around police. It’s unacceptable.”

His view appeared to be supported by opposition Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.

“It’s very difficult to watch,” he said of the video. “I found it very troubling and very worrying.”

Allan Adam after being arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (AP)

In the 12-minute clip, Mr Adam can be seen growing increasingly frustrated as police officers prevent him leaving the parking lot while they check an alleged expired licence plate.

He repeatedly swears at them as they block his way.

“I’m tired of being harasses,” he says at one point. But it is when an officer grabs his wife Freda Courtoreille that events take a dramatic turn.

As Adam tries to intervene, he is grabbed by one officer while another comes flying into shot, throwing the chief to the floor and repeatedly punching him as he lies on the ground.

“Fuck you, don’t resist arrest!” the officer yells. “Don’t resist! Don’t resist!”

When Mr Adam reappears in shot, he is handcuffed, bruised and bleeding.

Speaking after the footage was released, he told Canadian media: “Because we are a minority and nobody speaks up for us, every time our people do wrong and the RCMP go and make their call, they always seem to use excessive force. And that has to stop. And enough is enough.”

The force itself has not made a statement since the video was released but, beforehand, it said it had internally reviewed the clip and found the officers had taken “reasonable” action.