Police in the NWT say Saskatchewan RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit is investigating after a 35-year-old man died while in police custody in Yellowknife.
According to a Friday news release, police were called to the city’s Explorer Hotel just before 7am on Thursday “to respond to a report of threats.”
“Officers attended and determined that a 35-year-old, originally from Nunavut, had assaulted a female. The man was displaying signs of impairment and was apprehended without incident,” police stated.
RCMP said emergency medical responders “cleared [the man] for incarceration” at the Yellowknife detachment but he was subsequently “found unresponsive in his cell” at 9:50am. (How long he had spent in the cell was not stated.)
“Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately initiated, and EMS were called to assist. The man was transported to Stanton Territorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” RCMP stated.
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The man was not named by police.
By law, deaths in police custody require an external investigation. An RCMP division elsewhere in Canada is considered an external agency by NWT RCMP for that purpose.
“A team of investigators from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit deployed to Yellowknife. Saskatchewan RCMP’s investigation will review police actions throughout this incident, including the events leading up to and during the man’s arrest and detention,” NWT RCMP stated.
“The investigation is ongoing in collaboration with the Northwest Territories Office of the Chief Coroner.
“As this investigation is still in its early stages, no further comments will be made until the matter has been concluded.”
