Adrian Sylvester was shocked and surprised when the RCMP initially announced that they believed there was no criminality involved in the death of First Nation teenager Carsyn Mackenzie Seaweed.
Sylvester was one of roughly 30 people who gathered in front of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment on Friday (May 26) to protest the police91裸聊视频檚 handling of the investigation into the death of 15-year-old Seaweed.
The Citizen is now reporting her name as her family has identified her publicly.
Seaweed was found alive but semi-conscious under a pile of wooden pallets, cardboard and garbage behind the Super 8 Hotel in Duncan on the morning of May 15. She later died in hospital.
On Friday, Sylvester said he finds it ridiculous that Mounties would say they believed there was no criminality involved in the teenager91裸聊视频檚 death considering the state of how she was found.
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91裸聊视频淗ow could they say that this isn91裸聊视频檛 suspicious?91裸聊视频� he asked.
91裸聊视频淭he RCMP are supposed to be here to protect us. Carsyn91裸聊视频檚 family was heartbroken when they learned that the police had stopped the investigation. We want the RCMP and the community to be aware that these kinds of things can91裸聊视频檛 happen anymore. Enough is enough.91裸聊视频�
Sylvester is a member of Cowichan Tribes91裸聊视频� Sasquatch Clan Patrol, a volunteer-run organization that focuses on harm reduction and community health.
The RCMP have since confirmed that they are still actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the hours leading up to Seaweed91裸聊视频檚 death, and that their initial statement that they believed that there was no criminality involved was a miscommunication between police spokespeople.
Insp. Chris Bear, head of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, came out to talk to the protesters, assuring the crowd that investigators are doing all they can to get to the bottom of the case.
91裸聊视频淭his investigation was never closed, but there was a miscommunication and I apologize for that,91裸聊视频� he said.
Bear said he couldn91裸聊视频檛 speak about the case further as it91裸聊视频檚 still under investigation, and he encouraged anyone with information to contact the RCMP.
Cowichan Tribes and Seaweed91裸聊视频檚 mother are also urging anyone with information about her death and final hours to come forward.
Sylvester said he believes the RCMP only decided to continue the investigation into Seaweed91裸聊视频檚 death after they came under pressure from the community to do so.
He described the teen as always being happy and caring, with a smile that lit up the faces of everyone around her.
91裸聊视频淗er family and friends really loved her and they are in my prayers every day.91裸聊视频�
Sylvester said young people are full of joy and love, but they lose that when things like the death of Seaweed happen.
91裸聊视频淚 want our youth to grow up happy and thinking of their futures and I want to reassure them that this will not happen to them,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he support from the community here today is great, but it shouldn91裸聊视频檛 have had to come to this.91裸聊视频�
What91裸聊视频檚 needed are more patrols and security on the streets that have people on them who care about what they91裸聊视频檙e doing, he added.
91裸聊视频淲e also need more youth centres and other good places where kids can go for art, music and culture to keep them off the streets, as well as more recovery centres.91裸聊视频�
An online fundraiser has been set up for the family at .
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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