Man likely trying to smuggle drugs when he died in Regina police custody: watchdog

Scott Larson · CBC News

· Posted: May 20, 2025 5:09 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

A antheral who died portion successful constabulary custody was apt trying to smuggle drugs into a correctional facility, according to a study from Saskatchewan's constabulary watchdog organization.

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) came to that decision successful a study released Tuesday greeting that also cleared constabulary of immoderate wrongdoing successful the death.

SIRT investigates incidents wherever radical are harmed oregon dice during engagement with police.

On Aug. 21, 2023, a 23-year-old antheral turned himself successful to Regina constabulary successful narration to warrants helium had from different constabulary service.

The man was placed successful detention astir noon, but began complaining of a fever, tremors and assemblage aches aboriginal that evening.

A detention paramedic believed it to beryllium withdrawal symptoms. The man was fixed non-prescription symptom medicine to easiness the symptoms astatine astir 2:30 a.m.CST the adjacent day.

An hour aboriginal the antheral was recovered unresponsive successful his compartment and taken to Regina General Hospital successful captious condition.

At the hospital, a scan revealed six packages wrong the man's body, SIRT's study says. Medical unit removed 5 of the six packages, but the past bundle could not beryllium removed.

The antheral died that day and an autopsy revealed helium died from acute methamphetamine toxicity. A laboratory investigation of the packages removed from the antheral amusement they contained methamphetamine and morphine, the study says.

"Two of the seized packages contained samples unsuitable for analysis, and arsenic such, their contents stay unknown," the study says.

SIRT conducted with some civilians and police, arsenic well as reviewing video footage and audio of the events starring up to the man's death.

The study said astatine 10 a.m. CST connected Aug. 21, the antheral and different idiosyncratic took a taxi to the constabulary station.

When they arrived, the different idiosyncratic remained successful the taxi and instructed the driver to wait, arsenic helium wanted to marque definite the man went in, and that helium didn't "back out."

Once inside, the antheral waited successful the constabulary lobby portion they verified helium had warrants retired for his arrest.

He told police he had nary aesculapian conditions and was not suicidal. He besides said helium had consumed alcohol, but denied taking any drugs wrong the preceding 24 hours.

The study said the man was regularly monitored by some constabulary and paramedics astatine intervals of astir 15 minutes portion successful the cell.

"Based connected the grounds gathered, it appears highly apt that the affected person's crushed for taking this enactment was to effort to smuggle controlled substances into a correctional facility," the study concluded.

The study goes connected to accidental that cell checks were conducted some by constabulary and detention paramedics at regular intervals passim the man's time successful custody.

"Unfortunately, these checks were conducted without the assistance of close accusation regarding the quality of the affected person's condition."

The study concluded constabulary checks were done correctly and nary charges volition beryllium laid.