Two security guards from Risk Control Canada are accused of forcefully ejecting Clifford Antoine, 63, from Norseman Manor apartments in downtown Yellowknife. Antoine sustained injuries including a broken wrist, a black eye, and lacerations after being thrown headfirst off the stairs. He requested police intervention, claiming the guards’ actions were excessive and aggressive.
RCMP confirmed the arrest of the security guards, who were subsequently released pending a court appearance scheduled for March 3 to face charges of assault causing bodily harm. Antoine, who was not a resident of the building, recounted being asked to leave while charging his phone in the hallway in the early hours of a Sunday. Despite complying, he was forcibly removed by the guards and thrown off the stoop, resulting in his injuries.
Both Risk Control Canada and Northview REIT, the building’s owner, refrained from commenting as they conduct internal investigations. Risk Control Canada informed CBC of the termination of the guards involved, citing a breach of company policies and professional standards. The specific security protocols and the existence of surveillance footage capturing the incident remained undisclosed.
RCMP refrained from disclosing the names of the guards until formal charges are filed in court. Antoine, nursing minor injuries along with a broken wrist, expressed concerns about potential corrective surgery and loss of income due to his construction job. He attributed the incident to racial bias and criticized the escalating use of force by security personnel.
The incident involving Antoine marks the second internal investigation by Risk Control Canada in Yellowknife within a short period. Previously, a video surfaced on social media showing a guard assaulting a man at the Yellowknife Public Library. Despite claims of appropriate conduct by the guard, the City of Yellowknife has not disclosed the investigation’s findings. The lack of legislation governing security guard training and certification in the Northwest Territories has raised concerns within the justice department.
