The boss of the detective in charge of investigating a beating outside an Ottawa gay bar is frustrated with allegations made by representatives of the victim’s family.
Since this file has come across his desk, the investigating officer has been dedicated to this case,” says Dan Dunlop of the Ottawa Police. Stephane Tracy hasn’t been pursuing any other cases since Saturday morning, he says. “The investigation is ongoing.”
But representatives for the family of drag personality Dixie Landers say the case has received “second-class” treatment from the police. Doug Muir, a friend of the family, told Capital Xtra that the process has been “infuriating” in an interview May 29.
“I have to relay a little bit of frustration with what is being said. I understand what the fears are,” he says.
Dunlop says that those involved in the altercation have been interviewed. Additional interviews were conducted with the bar staff.
“We’re waiting to hear from the person in hospital to get a rounder view of what happened,” he says.
But that could stall the investigation for days, since she’s in a coma and two attempts to rouse her have been unsuccessful. Doctors will try again today to get Dixie to wake up.
Muir was riled, in part, by the suggestion that Dixie was culpable in the altercation that resulted in her extensive facial injuries and brain trauma.
In response to reports published suggesting the police considered Dixie at least partly culpable, Dunlop urged Ottawa’s gay community to keep from making judgments until the police have all the information.
“There are assumptions that someone should or should not be charged. We don’t want to jump to any conclusions for everyone’s sake,”
“There was an altercation between two parties. Who are you assuming should be taken into custody?”
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