Garden River questions the Jessie Roach fatality investigation

NEWS RELEASE GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION ************************* GARDEN RIVER, ON - Garden River First Nation is appalled by the charges laid involving the fatality of Jessie Roach.

NEWS RELEASE

GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION

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GARDEN RIVER, ON - Garden River First Nation is appalled by the charges laid involving the fatality of Jessie Roach.

The community feels that these charges are a complete misrepresentation of justice and an insult to Jessie’s family and the entire community.

Over the past four decades, Garden River has encountered approximately 37 traffic fatalities along Highway 17B, with not one person being convicted of a criminal offence.

With these statistics, the community feels that they have experienced a two-tiered justice system or alternatively, a system that does not work for First Nation’s people.

The rerouting of Highway 17 in 2007 was meant to address these issues of safety within the community.

The recent charges in the death of Jessie Roach is yet another example of injustice within the community and only raises further concerns towards this heavily trafficked area.

The community is struggling to understand why the alternative Highway bypass was not utilized at 5 a.m. by the alleged driver the night of Jessie’s death.

As a result of this, one of their citizens’ lives was taken.

“I have been in contact with OPP during the investigation and it was very frustrating to say the least to find out they were considering Obstruction and Failing to Report; then for it to be confirmed in the press release, I couldn’t believe it.” - Chief Lyle Sayers of Garden River.

Garden River’s Chief and Council fully supports the Roach Family in their efforts to seek justice for Jessie and will continue to do so.

The concern of the community’s safety is paramount at this time.

Garden River’s leadership will move forward and hold community consultation sessions to determine solutions that will address the security and safety of their citizens.

They hope their actions will remember Jessie and provide his family with some comfort that the loss of his life affected positive change.

The Roach family will be holding a Public Statement at the scene of the fatality, on Highway 17B, Monday, November 11 at 9 a.m.

The family encourages the public and media to attend.

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