When a video recording of a West Kelowna RCMP member's disturbing interrogation of a 17-year-old girl reporting a sexual assault was made public earlier this year, the general reaction was revulsion.

Conservative leader Andrew Sheer said he was shocked and horrified, while Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called it "absolutely abhorrent". Since then, it's been learned the Kelowna RCMP has been dismissing a disproportionate 40% of sexual assault complaints as 'unfounded'. That prompted the teen, who is now 25, to step forward and identify herself. Aden Lee Withers spoke at a protest outside the police station, and now she sits down with KelownaNow to tell her story.

It wasn't until several years after that infamous interview was conducted, that Withers saw the recording for the first time. A psychologist was with her for support. 

"The content of that video was so upsetting," she said, "that they didn't think it was safe for me to view it alone."

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Withers said she had largely blocked out the memory of what happened in that interview room. "I knew it was bad, but I had no idea to what extent." 

Then when Statistics Canada numbers revealed the Kelowna Detachment had been dismissing an incredible 40% of sexual assault complaints as "unfounded", Withers felt it was time to put a face on it.

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"I wanted to show the survivors of this statistic that there is a face and somebody would believe them if their stories were told," she explained, calling this revelation: "a disgrace to our community."

Speaking at that protest was an act of empowerment for her.

"I had some rage inside me that I had to let go, so I kind of used that to fuel my speeches," Withers added saying the police have to start rebuilding trust right now.

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"What I think they need to do immediately. before those unfounded cases are found, is they just need to provide some sort of counselling or support to victims regardless of the outcome of their case."

The release of that video recording brought back some bad memories, but she said the worst part was simply being disbelieved.

"He was bombarding me with questions," recalled Withers. "I knew probably within five minutes of going into that interview that he didn't believe me. And that, honestly, was the worst feeling ever because here I was trying to report something serious that happened to me and this police officer is giving me the ultimatum within ten minutes of the interview, to either be charged with public mischief or to do what they called 'restorative justice.'"

That process was almost as awful as the police interview for her.

"They got a community of people together, so RCMP members were there, social workers were there, my birth mom who was still heavy into addiction was there, and my youth workers were there. And what happened in that room was I had to write a letter of apology to everyone," said Withers. "And I had to go and hand these letters to each of them individually." 

She joins the Elizabeth Fry Society in demanding that RCMP members get more training on how to handle sexual assault cases. For her, it's destroyed her trust in the police, leaving her fearful every time she sees one.

"I get terrified. I always check to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong which I never am. I freeze up."

Despite all that, Withers still urges victims of sexual assaults to go to the police.

"I still would encourage people to come forward and try to make that report." she said.  "As difficult as it was for me, I don't regret making the report."

But she has advice for victims to take with them.

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"Always bring support with you, never allow yourself to be alone in a room with an RCMP officer, always make sure it's being recorded and always make sure you have someone with you to support you through the process because they will be asking some hard questions." 

According to Withers, the RCMP have re-opened the investigation in her case, but the accused has yet to be charged with any crime.