Police watchdog provides some new details of James Smith Cree Nation in-custody death
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) provided an update Wednesday on its investigation into the in-custody death of a 29-year-old on James Smith Cree Nation on Monday.
SIRT is the province's civilian-led watchdog unit that investigates serious incidents involving police.
On Wednesday, SIRT provided a timeline of events in a news release.
Melfort RCMP got a call at about 7:55 a.m. CST on Monday about a man who discharged bear spray in an occupied home on James Smith, which is about 160 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
Three RCMP officers and a community peace officer responded to the call and found a 29-year-old in the home.
"The RCMP members spoke with the man and attempted de-escalation tactics while the man remained inside the residence," the SIRT release said.
SIRT said officers informed the man he would be taken into custody under the Mental Health Service Act. The man then fled through the back door, the SIRT release said.
An earlier release from RCMP on Monday said the man fled when officers arrived.
SIRT said there was a short chase on foot and the man was arrested and put in handcuffs without the use of force.
An officer drew a stun gun in the chase, but did not discharge it, the SIRT release said.
Not long after being handcuffed, the man went into "medical distress" and police "immediately" contacted paramedics, SIRT said.
Officers performed first aid and administered naloxone several times before paramedics arrived at about 9:55 a.m. CST and took over. They declared the man dead shortly after that, according to SIRT.
SIRT said it was contacted by RCMP about the death at 10:18 a.m. CST on Monday.
A team of SIRT investigators was deployed to Melfort and James Smith Cree Nation. SIRT is to investigate the circumstances of the 29-year-old's death, the police conduct at the time and the cause of death.
The police watchdog organization says no further information will be released at this time and a final report will be released within 90 days of the investigation ending.
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