Two men severely injured after U.S. Coast Guard pursuit

Two Akwesasne men remain hospitalized with severe back injuries after they were allegedly hit in their boat by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel that was pursuing them on the St. Lawrence River.

The incident occurred on Monday, April 12, near Loran’s Marina off of Racquette Point; The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they initiated the pursuit when members of their Cornwall Regional Task Force were patrolling the river.

“RTF officers attempted to stop a vessel for a violation,” the RCMP said. “The vessel did not stop and entered US waters.”

Other (U.S. side) police agencies then took over the pursuit. How the U.S. Coast Guard’s 25-foot boat collided with the 15-foot personal watercraft operated by the two Mohawk men has not yet been made public.

The RCMP did not state what the violation had been and they referred media requests to the U.S. agencies involved; however, the Associated Press reported that the RCMP began the pursuit after the private boat was seen traveling without lights.

Dennis Kenny “Muskrat” Benedict and Jason Cook, the occupants of the pursued boat, were transported to Massena Memorial Hospital and then to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT for treatment of detrimental back injuries. Family members said Benedict has a shattered spine and Cook’s serious injuries are also to his back.

The U.S. Coast Guard said four of its staff members received minor injuries but were released after treatment at Massena Memorial Hospital.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the accident and the tribe announced that their police department will be conducting a separate investigation.

“The U.S Coast Guard, whose boat was involved in the collision with the Akwesasronon boat, has agreed to suspend their operations on the water while the tribal investigation is conducted,” the SRMT said. “The Akwesasne leadership is asking the community to remain calm while this investigation is conducted.  Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police at 518-358-9200 or the Akwesasne Mohawk Police at 613-575-2340.”