Senior dies nine days after going into medical distress in RCMP cell
Man was medevaced to Edmonton at the time but died after returning to Fort Smith Medical Centre
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Thursday, November 5, 2015
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
A senior citizen who was found in medical distress in an cell at the RCMP headquarters in Fort Smith last month has died.
Medicine Hat, Alberta Police are investigating a 66-year-old man's death after he went into medical distress in a cell at the Fort Smith RCMP detachment on Oct. 16. The man died nine days later after he returned to the Fort Smith Medical Centre following his treatment in Edmonton. - photo courtesy of RCMP
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That information is contained in a news release from Medicine Hat, Alta. police who were called into to investigate before the 66-year-old man died. RCMP "G" Division issued a news release on Oct. 22 stating the man had been found in the cells in medical distress on Oct. 16. He was taken to the Fort Smith Health Centre for treatment and was subsequently medevaced to Edmonton. RCMP stated they called in Medicine Hat police to investigate the incident to "ensure a thorough review of the matter."
Medicine Hat police stated in an e-mail dated Nov. 2 the man was treated in Edmonton and then transported back to the Fort Smith Medical Centre, where he died on Oct. 25.
"The cause of death will be determined by the NWT Coroner's Office, however preliminary indications are that the man's medical distress was the result of any criminal act or omission," the Medicine Hat news release stated.
NWT Deputy Chief Coroner Adriana Zibolenova confirmed an autopsy was done in Edmonton but said that an exact cause of death has yet to be released.
Medicine Hat Police investigators were in Fort Smith for three days last month conducting interviews, said Staff Sgt. Joe West of the Medicine Hat Police.
"There is no indication of any criminal matter here. It appears that the medical distress that came to the individual who was in RCMP custody was not caused by the RCMP nor were they in any position to prevent that distress," West said.
He was being held for a non-criminal matter and he may have been intoxicated at the time, West said, adding he was unable to give further details about exactly what kind of medical distress the man was in.
"At the onset, it does not appear that his medical distress was caused by any noticeable injury," he said.
"The purpose of the review will be to determine if any policies or procedures were breached by the actions of RCMP members during the incident and also to determine if there are any recommendations to prevent future occurrences that could be made," stated West in a news release.
"Medicine Hat Police recognizes that there is significant public interest in this investigation and as such, efforts will be made to expedite the investigation, however investigational reviews such as this can be complex and time consuming. It is anticipated that the review may take several weeks to complete."
Neither police force have released the man's name.
