(Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

JSCN mass stabbing

Inquest hears about acute hospital response, warrant types

Jan 22, 2024 | 4:58 PM

The jury of the coroner’s inquest into the mass stabbing at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon continued today with members learning of protocols in place regarding Code Orange at the local health authority, and the warrant status of Myles Sanderson — the perpetrator of the crime.

On Sept. 4, 2022 Sanderson killed 11 people and injured 18 others, before he was taken into police custody where he died. The inquest is not a fault-finding mission. Rather, it is a review of the events to determine facts and whether there were systemic failures that led to the incident. At the conclusion of the inquest, jurors may issue recommendations to prevent a similar incident.

A total of five witnesses testified at the Kerry Vickar Centre on Monday, with proceedings being adjourned just after 3:30 p.m., much faster than usual.

The first witness of the afternoon was Carrie Dornstauder the most senior executive director of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) on-call during the events Sept. 4.

She outlined the acute hospital response at that time, both through her personal experience and other first-hand accounts.

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Dornstauder testified that shortly after the mass stabbing was reported, extra support was put in place in local hospitals to prepare for incoming patients. That included moving non-critical patients to other logistical areas, bringing in extra physicians, and ensuring staff stayed around to support those that were incoming.

She said the emergency department of Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon was first notified of mass casualties at 7:45 that morning. The first patient was received at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert at 8:16 a.m.

A Code Orange, used to notify local hospitals and health officials of an influx of mass casualties across the region, was issued at 9:10 a.m. Dornstauder testified that the code gives the next step of command to teams to ensure enough infrastructure was in place, including the coordination of response to any family inquiries. Code Orange was also used during the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2016.

The presentation revealed that all SHA agencies reported in to Dornstauder at 1 p.m. That included an update on the situation at the hospitals in Melfort, Nipawin, Prince Albert, and Saskatoon, and the patient count and severity of their injuries. Family supports were also put in place at hospitals, and the authority also coordinated a media response.

Dornstauder testified that there were 17 patients in all. Four were listed as critical, and 13 were stable. All survived.

Staff Sgt. Ryan How was called to testify about the Saskatchewan Enforcement and Response Team (SERT). His Powerpoint presentation focused on RCMP terminology as it pertains to warrants.

How testified that an unlawfully at large warrant is issued by Corrections Service Canada (CSC) when an offender violates parole or breaches conditions of their release. Myles Sanderson fit this description.

There were 53 of that type of warrant active in the province when the stabbings occurred Sept. 4.

Meanwhile, How explained warrants are requested by police for outstanding offenses for which an individual has been charged, but not arrested. There are typically between 4,500 to 5,500 people that have active warrants in Saskatchewan at any given time. He said ‘fresh’ warrants are typically prioritized over UALs.

How testified that the Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team (WEST) is one of the teams funded within the Saskatchewan Enforcement and Response Team (SERT). WEST is trained to deal with the worst offenders with outstanding warrants.

A new points system has been developed that ranks offenders with the most violent offenses given 1,000 points. Lower tiers are given 25, 10, and 5 points.

How testified that Myles Sanderson would have had 105 points under this system had it been in place before the massacre. That wouldn’t rank him in the top 60 most wanted at the time. Sanderson’s conviction count was not seen by How as out of the norm in criminal circles.

How added the WEST teams focus primarily on the worst of the worst and try to get individuals in custody through surprise to keep risks low.

During questioning by JSCN counsel Keith Brown, How said the RCMP wasn’t aware that Myles Sanderson left Saskatoon, where he promised to reside, and that there was no SERT knowledge of Myles.

Witnesses in the morning discussed the 9-1-1 response during the mass stabbing, the provincial protective services role during Sept. 4, and the EMS response times that day.

Testimony resumes Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 a.m. in Melfort.