Edmonton police have charged 71-year-old Tsuut’ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney with sexual assault in relation to alleged offences in opposition to two males a long time in the past.
Police mentioned in a information launch issued Thursday afternoon that the primary offence occurred in “the early months” of 1994, when a 33-year-old male was sexually assaulted “within the space of 178 Road and 87 Avenue in Edmonton.”
The second offence is alleged to have occurred in “the summer time of 2005,” police mentioned, when a 38-year-old male was sexually assaulted “within the space of Stony Plain Street and 178 Road in Edmonton.”
Police say they had been initially alerted to the 1994 incident in November 2024. As they investigated, they then turned conscious of the 2005 incident and launched a separate investigation into that incident in Might of this yr.
“The complainants, who’re each from Tsuut’ina Nation, are identified to the suspect however unknown to 1 one other,” police mentioned.
Whitney was arrested by Edmonton police on Wednesday and charged with two counts of sexual assault.
Whitney ‘adamantly denies’ the fees: lawyer
Whitney’s lawyer, Jim Lutz, informed CBC Information on Thursday his shopper has cooperated with the police investigation.
“For a person who’s spent his life working for the nation, these are devastating allegations and ones that he adamantly denies,” Lutz mentioned.
“Any involvement with these people in any kind of legal capability is totally, utterly denied and he intends to defend himself vigorously in these prices.”
‘There could also be further complainants’
“We perceive that offences of this nature will be unsettling to group members, particularly after they pertain to people who had been in positions of authority and had been usually relied on for management and steering,” Det. Brian McGuigan with the Edmonton Police Service’s Sexual Assault Part mentioned within the information launch.
“Given the historic nature of those occurrences, our investigators are letting members of the general public know that it is OK to come back ahead and share your experiences with us. We wish to make sure that we examine any further stories of occasions that occurred in Edmonton in order that we will be part of significant therapeutic for this group and people who could have been harmed by this particular person.”
Edmonton police additionally mentioned “there could also be further complainants” and are asking “anybody who believes they’ve been victimized by the accused” to succeed in out to them at at 780-423-4567 or by dialling #377 from a cell phone.
Edmonton police mentioned the Calgary Police Service assisted within the investigations.
Tsuu’tina Nation is situated on Calgary’s southwest metropolis limits.
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