ASIRT launches probe into EPS letter to Crown prosecutors

Alberta's law enforcement watchdog is investigating Edmonton Police Service for potentially interfering with an active criminal case.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team announced Thursday it's probing the Sept. 8, 2025 letter EPS sent to Crown prosecutors objecting to Ashley Rattlesnake's manslaughter plea in the 2023 death of eight-year-old Nina Napope Dumais. The letter, signed by then-interim co-chief Warren Driechel and authored by top EPS lawyer Megan Hankewich, warned the Crown that police would release investigation details to sway public opinion if prosecutors didn't reconsider.

At Rattlesnake's February sentencing, Court of King's Bench Justice Jody Fraser stated the EPS move may have constituted obstruction of justice. Fraser reduced the original nine-year sentence by one year, citing the police conduct as reprehensible and lacking integrity.

ASIRT categorized the matter as a Level 1 complaint—the most serious—after receiving complaints forwarded to Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis. The Police Review Commission, a newly created umbrella organization, directed ASIRT to investigate. Matthew Block, ASIRT's acting executive director, said the agency will "follow the evidence" and "provide the public with confidence that the process is independent."

ASIRT noted that opening an investigation does not equate to a finding of misconduct. The case has drawn scrutiny from the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association, which called the EPS letter an extremely inappropriate extortion tactic.