IIO investigates after man taken into police custody dies

Jun 8, 2020 | 11:14 AM

KITIMAT—The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) is investigating after a man was held in police custody and later died in hospital.

On May 30, at around 7:30 p.m. Kitimat RCMP officers responded to assist Emergency Health Services with an intoxicated male near a local mall.

When police arrived, they found the man was suffering minor injuries, Emergency Health Services (EHS) assessed him and he was cleared by medical personnel for incarceration.

Kitimat RCMP attempted to find alternative care, instead of a prison cell for the man, such as the local hospital (where he was accessed once more) however were unsuccessful in doing so.

Kitimat RCMP booked the man, to be released when he was able to care for himself. While in RCMP custody, the man fell. EHS transported the man to hospital once again, where he stayed until the next morning, when he was released.

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Kitimat RCMP say that the man was in the community for around ten hours, and was re-admitted to hospital later that evening, allegedly in an intoxicated state. He remained at the hospital overnight, and the following morning was determined to be suffering from life-threatening injuries.

He was transported to a larger hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Kitimat RCMP along with the Regional General Investigation Section are looking into the man’s activities between his release and return to hospital.

The IIO will investigate and determine where police actions or inactions are linked to the man’s death.

by Veronica Beltran

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IIO investigates after man taken into police custody dies

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