Last year a man arrested on Ebb & Flow First Nation collapsed in his cell and died, and the Independent Investigation Unit has concluded its investigation into his death.
According to RCMP, on October 30th, 2020 at 11:23 a.m., RCMP officers were dispatched to a man with a machete threatening workers on Ebb and Flow First Nation.
Officers attended and located a man who appeared under the influence of meth. He was highly agitated during the arrest requiring numerous members to restrain him in order to place him in custody.
Inside the cell area, the man collapsed to the floor in medical distress.
Officers called for paramedics and initiated CPR. EMS assumed medical treatment upon arrival at the detachment and were able to secure a heartbeat. The man was then transported to Ste. Rose Hospital.
He appeared to have no brain activity and later passed away. The Independent Investigation Unit was notified of the incident that same day.
The Independent Investigation Unit says following a detailed review of this comprehensive investigation, it was determined that the man's death was a result of cardiac arrhythmia due to, or as a consequence of, meth toxicity mixed with the physiologic stress of struggle and restraint by police. The amount of meth in the man’s system was significant and extremely high.
The Independent Investigation Unit says it was determined that no actions by any police officer caused or contributed to the man's death to any degree.
