(file photo)

By northeastNOW staff

Pelican Narrows death in custody

White powder found in deceased man’s cell in Pelican Narrows

Jul 20, 2023 | 3:04 PM

A 34-year-old man who died while in RCMP custody had white powder in his cell about 36 hours after being arrested.

That’s the latest information following a release earlier this week from RCMP, the man died in the Pelican Narrows detachment and confirmation the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team was investigating.

SIRT said that on July 15 at 2:21 am, officers from the Pelican Narrows detachment received a 9-1-1 hang-up call and, while responding to it, encountered the man and arrested him.

He was searched, lodged in cells and then remanded in custody to appear in court.

On July 16 at about 2:40 pm, the man went into medical distress in his cell. Officers provided first aid and called EMS who took him to the local medical centre.

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He was pronounced dead at 3:27 pm.

The Coroner’s Service is investigating and will do a post-mortem exam along with toxicology and microscopy.

SIRT says they will be looking at the conduct of police officers and also investigate the circumstances of the man’s detention at the detachment.

The RCMP will keep investigating the man’s actions.

No more information is expected at the moment. SIRT must release a final report to the public within 90 days of the end of the investigation.

SIRT’s mandate is to independently investigate incidents where an individual has died or suffered serious injury arising from the actions of on and off-duty police officers, or while in the custody of police, as well as allegations of sexual assault or interpersonal violence involving police.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com