Latest news with #SaskatchewanSeriousIncidentResponseTeam
CTV News
02-05-2025
- CTV News
Report into woman's 2024 in-custody death in Swift Current released
Following the investigation into a 2024 in-custody death in Swift Current, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has released a report with their findings. Swift Current RCMP received a request to conduct a wellness check around 11:06 a.m. on May 5. A 55-year-old woman was found at a local hotel but refused assistance from police and EMS, according to SIRT's report. She was taken into custody under the Mental Health Services Act and brought into the ambulance waiting outside the hotel. However, on the way to Cypress Regional Hospital, she went into medical distress and became unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at 12:26 p.m. after she was admitted to hospital. SIRT was notified of the incident the next day. Four investigators and the civilian executive director were sent to Swift Current to begin their investigation. An autopsy conducted on May 7 found the woman died from cardiorespiratory arrest, as well as contributing factors including chronic and acute mental conditions, combined drug toxicity, and the stress of police detention. During SIRT's investigation, police and civilian witnesses were interviewed, and relevant audio, video, and documentary evidence was seized, the report said. The report found that while the officer placed the woman under arrest, he did so without any force, and she had been 'placed into the care of EMS personnel prior to the onset of her ultimately fatal medical distress.' 'It is further worth noting that prior to placing the affected person under arrest, the Subject Officer attempted to convince the affected person to attend for medical treatment voluntarily,' the report read. While the woman's stress from being arrested may have played a part in the timing of her medical distress, the report said the arrest was based on reasonable grounds and reasonably conducted, as the officer did so with prior knowledge of the woman's substance abuse and self harm. 'The combined information obtained both from the pre-existing information regarding the affected person as well as the observations of the Subject Officer made during the incident provided ample grounds for the Subject Officer to lawfully place the affected person under arrest pursuant to The Mental Health Services Act,' the report read. The investigation found that the subject officer did not commit any criminal offence during the incident and no charges will be laid. SIRT's mandate is to independently investigate in-custody deaths, injury from actions of police officers, and allegations of violence involving police.
Global News
30-04-2025
- Global News
Police watchdog investigating man's death at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan's police watchdog says it is investigating a man's death after he was arrested on a First Nation northeast of Saskatoon on Monday. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team says Mounties were called to the James Smith Cree Nation for reports that the man was using bear spray in a home. View image in full screen The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team is investigating the death of a man on the James Smith Cree First Nation after RCMP attempted to arrest him under the Mental Health Services Act. Global News File Photo In a written statement about the incident, the agency said the 29-year-old fled after officers told him he was going to be arrested under the Mental Health Services Act. Story continues below advertisement It says a brief foot chase ensued before 'the man was taken into custody without the use of force and was handcuffed.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The statement said a conducted energy weapon (stun gun) 'was drawn during the pursuit but was not discharged during the encounter.' The man went into medical distress and died after they attempted life-saving measures, including administering naloxone several times. 1:08 Saskatoon police sergeant suspended, serious incident team investigating James Smith Cree Nation was the site of a mass stabbing nearly three years ago, which saw 10 people killed and 17 injured before Myles Sanderson killed another person in the nearby community of Weldon. With files from Global News.
CTV News
30-04-2025
- CTV News
James Smith Cree Nation man dies in RCMP custody; SIRT launches investigation
Saskatchewan's police watchdog is taking over the investigation into the death of a 29-year-old man in RCMP custody on the James Smith Cree Nation. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) says the man died on April 28 after going into medical distress not long after being handcuffed. Shortly before 8 a.m. on April 28, Melfort RCMP received calls reporting a man spraying bear mace within an occupied home on the James Smith Cree Nation. Three officers, along with community peacekeepers, responded and located the man inside the home. According to SIRT, after a brief interaction, the man fled after he was informed he would be taken into custody under the Mental Health Services Act. After a short pursuit, SIRT says he was taken into custody 'without the use of force,' however, shortly after being handcuffed, he went into medical distress. Officers immediately contacted EMS and started providing first aid, including CPR and administering naloxone. Despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead shortly after paramedics arrived at the scene at around 9:43 a.m. SIRT investigators will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man's arrest and the cause of his death. The RCMP will maintain responsibility for investigating the original incident involving the discharge of bear spray. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.
CBC
30-04-2025
- CBC
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.
Winnipeg Free Press
30-04-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police watchdog investigating man's death at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan
SASKATOON – Saskatchewan's police watchdog says it is investigating a man's death after he was arrested on a First Nation northeast of Saskatoon. The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team says Mounties were called to the James Smith Cree Nation for reports that the man was using bear spray in a home. The agency says the 29-year-old fled after officers told him he was going to be arrested under the Mental Health Services Act. It says officers briefly chased him and did not use a stun gun before handcuffing him. The man went into medical distress and died after they attempted life-saving measures, including administering naloxone several times. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. James Smith Cree Nation was the site of a mass stabbing nearly three years ago, which saw 10 people killed and 17 injured before Myles Sanderson killed another person in the nearby community of Weldon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2025.
