Sister of Winnipeg man who died in detox wants to know why he wasn't hospitalized

CBC News

· Posted: Jul 04, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

The sister of a antheral who died aft being placed in a Winnipeg detoxification centre wants to cognize wherefore her member was not hospitalized instead.

Alishia Brass said her member Aiden Genaille, 24, died astatine the Main Street Project connected June 27 aft helium was detained by the Winnipeg Police Service.

She fears her member was not provided with capable attraction due to the fact that helium was intoxicated.

"I consciousness similar they just treated him with nary respect and conscionable didn't care," she said. "I conscionable wanted him to beryllium treated fairly."

Earlier this week, Winnipeg constabulary said officers responded to a study of a man being assaulted by a radical of radical connected Mayfair Avenue successful Winnipeg's River-Osborne neighbourhood soon aft 5 a.m. connected June 27.

The attackers had near by the clip officers arrived, constabulary said successful a Monday quality release. The man was medically cleared by paramedics and declined constabulary engagement successful the probe of his assault, according to police.

The battle unfortunate was detained under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act — which allows officers to detain idiosyncratic if they are intoxicated and constabulary fearfulness they are a information to themselves oregon others — because helium was intoxicated and for his ain safety, constabulary said. 

He was taken to downtown's Main Street Project, wherever helium was medically cleared a 2nd clip and placed successful the detoxification facility's care, according to police.

Shortly earlier 11 a.m. that day, the antheral experienced a aesculapian exigency and was taken to hospital, wherever helium was pronounced dead, the constabulary quality merchandise said.

Police did not place the man, but Brass confirmed it was her brother.

She said she wants to cognize wherefore constabulary did not instrumentality him to infirmary alternatively of to the Main Street Project.

She besides wants to cognize wherefore nary 1 "[made] sure helium was OK earlier they threw him into his cell, oregon astatine slightest cheque connected him oregon springiness him immoderate decency, a accidental to live, even," she said successful an interrogation connected Wednesday.

She besides said nary subordinate of her household was allowed to spot Genaille's assemblage oregon place him astatine Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.

The Main Street Project said it can't remark connected the man's decease due to the fact that it is nether investigation, spokesperson Cindy Titus said successful a statement.

But Jamil Mahmood, the Main Street Project's enforcement director, said paramedics measure each idiosyncratic who is brought into the facility.

People successful the Main Street Project's attraction are besides checked connected each 15 minutes and woken up each hour, Mahmood said.

Police said the Independent Investigation Unit, Manitoba's constabulary watchdog agency, has been notified of the decease and has assumed work for the investigation.

That probe prevents the Winnipeg Police Service from commenting, spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said successful a statement.

Brass said she does not cognize wherefore anyone would battle her brother.

"Aiden, he walks with his caput down. Like, that's however overmuch helium keeps to himself," she said. "He doesn't bug anybody. He's a quiescent guy. He conscionable likes watching his anime connected his phone."