On May 9, at approximately 6:25 p.m., Kitscoty RCMP officers arrested a woman on outstanding warrants, and transported her to the Lloydminster RCMP detachment where she was lodged in cells.
On May 10, following a judicial interim release hearing, the woman was ordered to remain in custody pending court. After this, a physical altercation occurred between the woman and a Lloydminster RCMP officer. The woman returned to a cell without any further incident.
On May 12, at approximately 2:01 p.m., at 5:05 p.m. and again at 9:59 p.m., the RCMP provided the woman with medication prescribed by Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program.
On May 13, at 12:40 a.m., the cell guard found the woman in medical distress, appearing to have a seizure. Emergency Medical Services attended and transported the woman to the hospital.
A medical examination at the Lloydminster Hospital in Saskatchewan determined that the woman was pregnant. In the early morning, an emergency C-section was completed, and the infant was delivered. The newborn infant passed away a few hours later.
ASIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident including the circumstances surrounding the woman’s arrest and her time in custody. With ASIRT’s investigation underway, no additional information will be released.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.