Police watchdog investigating in-custody death on James Smith Cree Nation

Dan Zakreski · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 29, 2025 10:26 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

The province's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the decease of a 29-year-old antheral who went into 'medical distress' aft his apprehension by RCMP connected the James Smith Cree Nation, 140 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

It happened astir 7:55 a.m. connected April 28, RCMP said successful a quality release.

Officers from the Melfort detachment were called to the First Nation aft getting a study that a antheral had utilized carnivore spray wrong a house. A 2nd caller reported the fishy was successful the basement of the location and whitethorn person utilized an illicit substance.

The antheral took disconnected from the location erstwhile officers arrived and was arrested successful the backyard.

"Immediately aft his arrest, the big antheral went into aesculapian distress successful the backyard," the merchandise said.

"Officers instantly called EMS, administered naloxone aggregate times, and provided CPR until EMS arrived. The 29-year-old antheral was declared deceased by EMS astatine the scene."

The man's household has been notified. RCMP did not merchandise his name.

Under the presumption of provincial law, SIRT volition analyse the circumstances of the death and supply a report.