Sask. police watchdog provides new details in case of man who died in Melfort RCMP custody

CBC News

· Posted: May 09, 2025 2:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

New details, including a antecedently unreported carnal altercation, are emerging successful the decease of 44-year-old antheral who died earlier this week portion successful Melfort RCMP's custody.

Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the death. SIRT is the province's civilian-led watchdog portion that investigates superior incidents involving police.

RCMP issued a quality merchandise Wendesday saying the antheral had taken into custody astatine astir 9:45 a.m. CST on May 6 aft reports of a antheral disturbing the bid astatine a location connected Bemister Avenue West successful Melfort, Sask., which is astir 150 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

Officers recovered a 44-year-old man they accidental had breached the model astatine the home, RCMP said.

On Friday, a SIRT news merchandise said RCMP recovered the antheral acting erratically and took him into custody nether the Mental Health Services Act.

Paramedics examined the antheral and helium was taken to infirmary for an injured hand.

While the antheral was being examined, "another disturbance occurred," and RCMP attempted to instrumentality him backmost into custody, SIRT said.

"During the process of taking the antheral backmost into custody, a carnal altercation occurred," SIRT's merchandise said. That altercation was not mentioned successful the archetypal RCMP release.

The antheral was backmost successful a compartment astatine the Melfort detachment by 10:45 a.m. CST Tuesday.

At 5:10 p.m. CST, RCMP recovered the antheral successful aesculapian distress. Officers started CPR and EMS transported the antheral backmost to hospital, wherever helium was declared dead.

SIRT is investigating the behaviour of constabulary during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man's apprehension and the origin of his death. SIRT reports are to beryllium released to the public within 90 days of the extremity of the investigation.