Alberta's police watchdog to investigate after man dies in Airdrie RCMP custody

STORY UPDATE:In its report released on Nov. 17, 2023,ASIRT concludedthat RCMP officers did nothing that could have caused the death of the man who was taken into custody and that there are no reasonable grounds to believean offence was committed. Read the full report here.

Alberta's police watchdog willinvestigate the death of an Alberta man that occurred while he was in Airdrie RCMP custody, the RCMP said Friday.

TheAlberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigatesincidents involving policethat have resulted in serious injury or death, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

RCMP said that around 1:40 p.m. on June 6, a35-year-old manwas arrested in relation to an "uttering threats investigation."

There was a struggle during the man's arrest, and he appearedto sustain minor injuries when he was pushed to the ground, RCMP said.

EMS was called to respond, and while awaiting their arrival, officers put the manin a police vehicle, where he appeared to "deliberately strike his head on the Plexiglass shield" between seats.

After EMS arrived and examined the man, he was sent to hospital before he was released back into police custody. He waslater takenby RCMP to the Airdrie detachment's cell block.

The man was remanded into custody at a judicial release hearingon June 7 shortly after 9:30 a.m.

Before noonthat same day,EMS was called to the cell block because the man appeared to be in medical distress, according to the RCMP.

"Within minutes, prior to EMS arrival, the male became unresponsive.RCMP staff commenced CPR until EMS arrived [and began] emergency medical treatment," RCMP said.

"The male was briefly resuscitated and was transported to a local area hospital. Unfortunately, he was subsequently declared deceased at approximately 1:31 p.m."

The Airdrie RCMPsaid they would continue both their original investigationand an investigation into the man's actions.