Latest news with #EdmontonJournal
Edmonton Journal
7 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton police officer who repeatedly struck arrestee with baton found not guilty
The chaotic arrest was captured on security cameras at the nearby Royal Alberta Museum Get the latest from Jonny Wakefield straight to your inbox Surveillance video of Edmonton Police Service Const. Alexander Doduk's Nov. 26, 2019, arrest of Justin LaFrance. Doduk was charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon for using a baton to hit LaFrance, a construction worker who says he was trying to stop a man who broke a window on his work site. He was found not guilty June 11, 2025. Photo by Supplied / 10108205A An Edmonton police officer caught on video hitting a man with his baton has been acquitted of assault. Jurors on Wednesday returned to the courtroom after nine hours of deliberation and found Const. Alexander Doduk not guilty of two counts of assault for his arrest of construction worker Justin LaFrance near the Edmonton courthouse on a snowy morning in 2019. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors LaFrance claimed Doduk attacked him as he tried to talk to a man suspected of breaking a window, while Doduk said LaFrance resisted arrest, including by grabbing at his duty belt. The chaotic arrest — during which Doduk hit and punched LaFrance before striking him repeatedly with his baton — was captured on security cameras at the nearby Royal Alberta Museum. The cameras did not record sound, leading to competing claims from Crown and defence about what LaFrance and Doduk said before and during the arrest. As a rule, jurors do not explain how they arrived at their verdict, but the outcome indicates they believed the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Doduk used excessive force. Jurors did not hear other details about Doduk's career — including his role in the death of Steven Nguyen, an unarmed man who died after Doduk shot him four times in 2021. The shooting was investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which concluded there were grounds to believe Doduk committed a 'culpable homicide.' The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, however, declined to proceed with charges, saying it could not prove Doduk's actions were 'unreasonable' under the Criminal Code's police use of force provisions. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The arrest at the centre of Doduk's trial happened Nov. 26, 2019. LaFrance was part of a crew renovating a building across the street from the Edmonton courthouse and told court he heard glass break during his morning site check. He walked out onto 97 Street, flagged down a passerby and asked if he had seen someone break a window. The passerby pointed to a man in dark clothing on the opposite street corner by the museum, LaFrance testified. LaFrance said he waved to Doduk as the officer drove by in his cruiser, and crossed 97 Street diagonally after Doduk flashed his lights to control traffic. He said he caught up with the alleged vandal and calmly asked him to stop until police arrived. Doduk described a different scene. Driving by on his way to the courthouse, Doduk claimed he heard LaFrance screaming threats at the vandalism suspect, then saw him cross the busy road during rush hour. Doduk said he parked his cruiser and went after the two men, worried they would come to blows. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The two men's versions of what happened next also differ. LaFrance claimed Doduk 'tackled' the other man seconds after arriving and ignored him when he tried to deescalate the situation. He said he tapped Doduk on the shoulder to get his attention, urged him to calm down and said he wasn't sure the man was actually the suspect. According to LaFrance, Doduk handcuffed the man, got to his feet, then swung at him. LaFrance claims he has no memory of the scuffle with Doduk, and only came to after his arrest in the middle of 97 Street about a minute later. Doduk, for his part, said he lost his footing while trying to arrest the suspected vandal. He claimed LaFrance was agitated and pushed him while he tried to handcuff the man, then ignored repeated commands to stop resisting. When LaFrance continued to grab him after being punched in the face, he pulled out his baton and called for backup. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. LaFrance says he suffered a black eye, chipped tooth, fractured rib and bruises all over his body. He blamed the gap in his memory on post-traumatic stress. Police initially charged him with assaulting a peace officer, though the charge was ultimately dropped. ASIRT charged Doduk with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm Aug. 30, 2023. Police photos of Justin LaFrance's injuries, taken Nov. 26, 2019. LaFrance said he suffered bruising, a black eye, a chipped tooth and a fractured rib after Edmonton police Const. Alexander Doduk struck him with a baton. Photo by Supplied / 10108205A Prosecutor Michelle Kai urged jurors to convict Doduk. She argued he had no grounds to arrest LaFrance, and used force that was unjustified and disproportionate. '(LaFrance) was trying to do the right thing,' she said, arguing the matter could have been solved with a 'conversation.' 'He was waving the officer over to help him. He was not doing anything wrong. No use of force was necessary.' Defence lawyer Dino Bottos painted LaFrance as the aggressor. He highlighted LaFrance's MMA training and history of what Bottos framed as anti-police comments. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bottos argued the video alone does not provide the full context of the arrest. 'Police officers these days come under a lot of scrutiny, often because of video surveillance footage that is in the news media, sometimes rightly so,' he said. 'But sometimes not correctly so, because people have a misunderstanding of what police have to do in certain situations.' The defence also called a use of force expert, who claimed Doduk's use of the baton was justified. Doduk's acquittal comes weeks after another Edmonton city police officer, ex-constable Oli Olason, was found not guilty of assaulting a man during a 2021 arrest. Olason was caught on video putting his boots to a suspect's head, though jurors ultimately concluded he did not commit an assault. A judge who heard the case of Olason's co-accused described the arrest as 'assaultive' and said the arrestee appeared to have tried to surrender peacefully. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. —with files from Jackie Carmichael jwakefield@ @ Read More Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Sports Local News Politics
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canadian resident accused of plot to shoot New York Jewish centre extradited to U.S.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and attempting to commit terrorism that transcends national boundaries Published Jun 10, 2025 • Last updated 12 minutes ago • 2 minute read Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, who was arrested in Quebec for allegedly plotting to kill Jews in New York City. Photo by Quebec Superior Court via CP OTTAWA — The U.S. Justice Department says a Pakistani citizen who was living in Canada has been extradited to New York, where he's accused of plotting to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish centre. The RCMP arrested Muhammad Shahzeb Khan in Quebec last September. The Mounties said at the time he was in the process of planning a deadly attack targeting Jewish people in the U.S. and was facing charges in Canada. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors He is now charged in the U.S. with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and attempting to commit terrorism that transcends national boundaries. The 20-year-old is set to appear in a New York court on Wednesday. The U.S. Justice Department says Khan was planning an 'ISIS-inspired mass shooting' around the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2024. Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement that Khan planned to 'use automatic weapons to kill as many members of our Jewish community as possible, all in support of ISIS.' The statement said Khan started posting on social media and communicating with people on encrypted messaging apps about his support for ISIS around November 2023. After he shared ISIS propaganda online, he started communicating with undercover law enforcement officers. He told them he and an American associate, who is not named in the statement, were planning an attack. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Justice Department statement said Khan told the undercover officers to buy AR-style assault rifles, ammunition and other materials, and he gave them details about how he planned to cross the border. Last August, he changed his planned target and told the undercover officers he had decided to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn on or around Oct. 7, 2024. 'During one communication, Khan noted that 'if we succeed with our plan this would be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11,'' the statement said. Khan tried to reach the U.S. border on Sept. 4, 2024. The Justice Department said he used three separate cars to travel through Canada toward the border and was stopped by Canadian authorities near Ormstown, Que., about 20 km from the border. The allegations have not been proven in court. If convicted, Khan faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Local News Politics Edmonton Oilers Sports Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Three-quarters of emails to Smith on 'path forward' address called remarks divisive: Government report
"One quarter of correspondents thank the premier for laying out a path forward and giving a voice to those who are dissatisfied with the federal government." Premier Danielle Smith hosted the United Conservative Party's third annual Calgary Leader's Dinner on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Photo by Darren Makowichuk / Postmedia, file Roughly three-quarters of the hundreds of Albertans who wrote to Premier Danielle Smith following her May 5 social media address characterized her remarks as divisive, with the same proportion expressing opposition to a separation referendum, shows an internal government report. Last month, video of Smith delivering an 18-minute speech was posted across her social media channels and to the government's news site. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors She listed historical grievances Alberta has had with Ottawa, set out a plan to form an Alberta Next panel to determine the province's path forward with the federal government, and acknowledged the likelihood of a citizen-led separation referendum in the future. The speech drew a strong response, according to the premier's weekly communications report which was obtained by Postmedia via a freedom of information request. It notes the volume of emails to Smith's office grew by more than 50 per cent over a week earlier, up to more than 8,000 messages, with about a one-quarter of those related to Smith's speech or a potential independence vote. 'Three-quarters of correspondents call the premier's comments divisive and suggest they divert attention from other issues,' the report states. 'One quarter of correspondents thank the premier for laying out a path forward and giving a voice to those who are dissatisfied with the federal government.' Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The ratio was similarly specific to a potential referendum, the report states. 'One quarter of correspondents support the idea, with many urging the premier to call a referendum and citing concerns with the new federal government,' it states. 'A small number of correspondents pose specific questions, such as: how can they move to Alberta, how can they add their support to a petition for a referendum, and how would separation affect federal employees or recipients of the Canada Pension Plan in Alberta.' Postmedia also used the freedom of information process to acquire more than 170 individual responses sent to the premier's office in the hours after the speech. Many of those opposed to Smith's message took issue with her rhetoric they described as antagonistic. 'I agree that Alberta has been treated poorly over the past 10 years. There is now a new government in place. Would it not make sense to give them a chance, rather than to approach negotiations in a hostile manner, with Alberta ready to pick a fight — any fight —and therefore further distancing itself from national and provincial alliances,' states one email. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'You threw a temper tantrum on live television. Threatening separation every time things don't go your way doesn't make you a strong leader — it makes you look like a sulking child who storms off with their soccer ball when they lose,' states another. A smaller group was more supportive and thanked Smith for what they saw as her defending Alberta's interests. 'I like the line drawn in the sand with (Prime Minister Mark) Carney and the federal government! If we were Quebec those things would happen but (for) Alberta, history says unlikely,' stated one emailer from Hanna. Others felt the address and independence issue were distractions from shortcomings with Smith's government, including affordability, health care, and multiple ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption as set out in a lawsuit by the ousted head of Alberta Health Services. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This tactic may galvanize a portion of your base in the short term, but it does long-term harm to the public trust, weakens democratic institutions, and erodes our collective capacity for reasoned debate and informed decision-making.' Those who viewed her speech as divisive accused Smith of pandering to extremists. 'By legitimizing their hardline demands, you risk alienating the majority of Albertans who seek stability, sound economic policies, and a government that engages constructively with Ottawa rather than antagonizing it.' Relative to a referendum, those in favour of such a vote told Smith that it must happen soon. 'We cannot wait until 2026,' one such email states. 'Give Alberta the chance and opportunity the Liberals never have and never will. We cannot afford it anymore.' Those opposed to a separation vote most often cited the potential economic consequences of even considering such a move. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Separating from Canada is a ludicrous proposition that would only harm Albertans financially and put us in a very precarious position,' states one email. A writer from Red Deer County added, 'the anger and damage you are causing by taking this course of action is utterly unacceptable.' Others stressed the need for Alberta and Ottawa to collaborate, regardless of partisan affiliation. 'I expect all levels of my government to work together productively, no matter which political party they come from, and across party lines, for the betterment of everyone.' mblack@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun. Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Crime Sports News
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
EPS pioneers biometrics to revolutionize at-risk detention
The EPS pilot project originated in 2023, and interest in its success has grown. Now Regina and Medicine Hat and a few agencies in Ontario have the system, and Lethbridge and Calgary are working on it. Staff Sgt. Mark Farnell gives a tour of the Detainee Management Unit (DMU), including the DMU body scanner (centre left), inside the Edmonton Police Service Northwest Division Station, in Friday May 30, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia Edmonton police have a new digital ally in keeping vulnerable detainees safe in the cell between arrest and bail, the first of its kind in Canada. Handcuffed and brought to the Detainee Management Unit at Edmonton Police Service's North Campus, detainees come with information — charges, wallet contents, drug paraphernalia, criminal record, complaints, reports, behaviour, appearance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors But the detainee may be unwell in ways they're not even aware of themselves, and if they appear to be at risk, that's where in-cell biometric monitoring comes, with the help of a wireless medical vital-sign monitoring device comes in. 'These sensors enable us to monitor the detainee's heart rate, their breathing rate, and also for motion, and it's instantly and simultaneously monitored by our monitoring room, fed into a dashboard,' said Insp. Michael Dreilich. Just finished its pilot year, the innovative system of unobtrusive wall-mounted boxes was originally designed for use in senior care homes, but it seems uniquely suited to detention use and is installed in 10 of 51 cells at the DMU. The critical message is top of mind: No one dies. No one gets hurt. In the year the biometric sensors have been in place, EPS hasn't had any fatalities within cells, Dreilich said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Humans are humans, and things get missed,' he acknowledged. 'But some people with really acute health-care needs, with something like complex addiction issues or withdrawal issues, combined with other health issues that may be before using any kind of substances or alcohol, then it enables us to monitor at a more enhanced level to make sure they will be (OK) while they're in our custody.' A biometric monitor (grey box top left) and video camera is visible in a cell at the Detainee Management Unit inside the Edmonton Police Service Northwest Division Station, in Friday May 30, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia ALL ABOUT THE BAIL A hive of police activity supports EPS operations at the EPS North Campus perched just north of Anthony Henday Drive at 11025 133 Ave NW. Some 20 to 30 EPS staff may swell with a training class of 50. The Alberta Sheriffs have an office to assist with transports. There are 20 or so civilian staff in the building whose job is to gather disclosure material for the Crown. A 'bullpen' serves all the EPS detectives. The DMU processes thousands of detainees each year. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Sometimes there's only a few in cells. Sometimes after a large-scale event, it's almost full. Community Peace Officer Chad Nykolaishyn monitors detainees, including biometric information, from the Detainee Management Unit Welfare Station at the Edmonton Police Service Northwest Division Station, in Friday May 30, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia Eyeballing entire the operation, there are 160 cameras feeding in to a large control room full of screens — which need to be monitored. But for detainees, the bail hearing rooms are the hub. Everyone who comes to the site is destined to go before a justice of the peace within 24 hours. At intake, detainees are searched multiple times. They may be scanned on what looks like a full-body medical device, and asked to sit on a chair scanner to search for weapons or drugs hidden in cavities. An advanced paramedic checks detainees out; if they need urgent medical attention, they're taken to hospital. They speak to duty counsel. Files to the Crown. Fingerprints for the record. Did they refuse a meal, use the phone? Noted. At the eventual bail hearing, video brings in a JP from the Edmonton law courts. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Crown prosecutor and duty counsel typically video in. Depending on the seriousness of the alleged crime and flight risk, they make bail or go directly to jail at the nearby Edmonton Remand Centre. Grant funding provides two civilians who can help connect detainees post-release with services like addiction, housing, medical. 'For us, the shortest time they're in custody is best,' Staff Sgt. Mark Farnell said as he escorted the Postmedia team around the quiet halls. And in between intake and bail, there's custody in cells. Biometric information is visible on a screen as Community Peace Officer Chad Nykolaishyn monitors detainees from the Detainee Management Unit Welfare Station at the Edmonton Police Service Northwest Division Station, in Friday May 30, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia ALARMED DASHBOARD GRID A larger control room monitors the entire facility's 160 cameras, but in the Detainee Welfare Station, a peace officer concentrates on the biometric sensor dashboard's flickering grid, watching the accompanying bank of live-feed video from 10 cells deemed higher risk. 'We move from dealing with someone's custodial matters to now concern about their welfare,' Farnell said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Among the 10, there are a few 'soft cells,' the flesh-toned 'padded' cell has a sort of spongy quality floor to ceiling, devoid of harsh edges — or even a toilet. 'If someone was self-harming, yeah, and then they could, we can move into this cell so if they sort of start maybe banging their heads or doing something else,' Farnell said. Red signifies a detainee's numbers have passed a safe threshold, triggering an alarm. 'If the sensor goes off, then the staff can alert the patrol people to go and check with the detainee to see what's happening, just to make sure they're OK,' he said. In August 2024, biometric monitoring saved the life of a female detainee in custody who had several complex health-care issues, Dreilich said. 'At the time she went into the cell, she was in stable condition. Her condition rapidly deteriorated so much that it triggered the control centre, and the advanced care paramedic was able to enter the cell and ultimately save that woman's life,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Sgt. Angela Raw manages the Detainee Management Unit inside the Edmonton Police Service Northwest Division Station, in Friday May 30, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia The devices are $3,000 apiece per unit. And then there's licensing fees, about $3,500 per unit all in for the year. The monitoring is done by EPS and built into budget. 'We've had these in place for just over a year now, and we are looking at expanding it within this year. We'll see if the budget will allow it,' Dreilich said. The hidden savings are the statistics below the surface of the detention iceberg. What costs the system avoids — overdoses averted, lawsuits never pursued, funerals never held, administrative leave unneeded because nothing tragically slipped by employees — remains to be calculated. The EPS pilot project originated in 2023, and interest in its success has grown. Now Regina and Medicine Hat and a few agencies in Ontario have the system, and Lethbridge and Calgary are working on it, Dreilich said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Within the detention world, we try and share as much as we can, because our problems are the same, just on different scales, from small RCMP detachments to big agencies,' he said. A BRIEF HISTORY OF DEATH IN CUSTODY According to StatCan, 2021 was the deadliest year to date in Canada for in-custody deaths, with 169 deaths. According to Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigation statistics, in the past 10 years the agency investigated 58 deaths in custody, including medical distress during arrest and death while at home surrounded by police, around the province, factoring in a handful of investigations conducted in other provinces. The numbers ranged from a high of 13 deaths in 2013 to a low of 1 in 2018, and last year, 2024, was the second most deadly year for deaths in custody, with 9 deaths. In-cell deaths in Edmonton detention included the March 16, 2020 overdose death of a 38-year-old male detainee. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was determined he had consumed fentanyl smuggled in by another detainee. ASIRT determined little could have been done to avert the death of a woman who died of a stroke suffered in an Edmonton police cell. The 55-year-old died hours after her arrest at the Belvedere LRT station on Aug. 6, 2017. ASIRT said she appeared to be fine to officers monitoring cells below the Edmonton Police Service headquarters, but on Aug. 7, an officer heard laboured breathing coming from the cell shared with other women, and found her in medical distress. She died in hospital from an acute hemorrhagic stroke. An autopsy found the stroke was not related to physical trauma, and that an underlying disease affected her blood's ability to clot, and found low levels of methamphetamine and diazepam in her system. — With files from Jonny Wakefield Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Sports Cult of Hockey Sports
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
What eating foods like dark chocolate and berries did to a study group of more than 120,000 people
Study participants between the ages of 40 and 70 also consumed other fruits, like oranges, and drank tea Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, a compound found in a variety of foods and beverages. Photo: Metro Images A new study reveals what drinking tea and eating dark chocolate and berries did for a group of more than 120,000 people. Those foods, as well as fruits like grapes, apples, oranges, and beverages like red wine, all contain flavonoids, which are compounds found in many plant products. Flavonoids can 'help your body function more efficiently while protecting it against everyday toxins and stressors,' per Healthline. The study's authors said those who consumed a diverse range of foods containing flavonoids (such as berries, grapes and dark chocolate) 'could lower their risk of developing serious health conditions and have the potential to live longer,' in a news release. The study has been peer-reviewed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In the study, which was recently published in the journal Nature Food, researchers observed 124,805 participants between the ages of 40 and 70 from the UK Biobank, a large-scale database with biomedical information. The participants were tracked for roughly 10 years and their dietary information was collected using a questionnaire asking them about the frequency in which they ate approximately 200 types of food and 30 beverages. Dr. Benjamin Parmenter, a research fellow at Edith Cowan University in Australia, was the study's first author and co-lead. He said consuming roughly 500 mg of flavonoids a day or more was linked to a 16 per cent lower risk of 'all-cause mortality' (meaning death from any cause). It was also linked to a roughly 10 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory disease. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A study published in 2025 in peer-reviewed food science journal Foods said, as it pertains to human health, 'flavonoids are recognized for their ability to combat aging, mitigate inflammation, safeguard the nervous system, and promote overall well-being.' However, in another study published in 2022 in the Nutrition Journal, researchers 'observed an increased risk of prostate cancer by higher intake of total flavonoids.' In a study published in 2016 in the Journal of Nutritional Science, researchers called for further studies on flavonoids so their usefulness 'in the diet could be improved for better human health.' 'Over 30 different types of flavonoids are regularly consumed in the human diet. These are found in different types of everyday foods,' Parmenter told National Post over email. A few squares of dark chocolate could be roughly 25 mg of flavonoids. One apple is equal to roughly 100 mg of flavonoids, while one orange is roughly 60 mg. For tea drinkers, one cup of black tea is roughly 300 mg of flavonoids, while the same amount of green tea is roughly 150 mg. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We observed that consuming a higher quantity and wider diversity of dietary flavonoids, when consumed together, may represent the optimal approach for improving long-term health, compared with increasing either flavonoid quantity or diversity alone,' Parmenter said. Those with the highest flavonoid diversity were more likely to be female, older, have a lower body mass index (BMI), be more physically active and have a higher education and were less likely to be current smokers, according to the study. 'We also know from lab data and clinical studies that different flavonoids work in different ways, some improve blood pressure, others help with cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation,' said study co-lead professor Aedín Cassidy, per the news release. Cassidy is from the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The findings of the study show how 'simple and achievable dietary dietary swaps' can 'potentially improve health in the long-term,' she said. 'Dietary swaps, such as drinking more tea and eating more berries and apples for example, can help increase the variety and intake of flavonoid-rich foods, and potentially improve health in the long-term,' said Cassidy. According to researchers, no previous works appear to have reported on the human health benefits of a flavonoid-diverse diet. 'Consequently, replication of our findings in other cohorts and clinical trials will be critical, as will the exploration of flavonoid diversity with other disease outcomes. Interpretation, however, requires careful consideration,' said researchers, in the study. The study was led by researchers from Queen's University Belfast, Edith Cowan University Perth, and the Medical University of Vienna and Universitat Wien. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Sports Cult of Hockey
