On Oct.18, 2024, CPS were called to a report of a disturbance at a McDonald’s restaurant located at 5222 130th Avenue SE Calgary. The responding CPS officer arrived and observed a male acting erratically. The CPS officer exited his vehicle, and the man started to approach him shouting about already being told he was free to go by another officer. The officer took hold of the man and told him to calm down and get on the ground. The man resisted and was taken to the ground while refusing commands to comply. Following a brief struggle handcuffing was completed and the man was secured in custody. A pat-down search of the man was completed, with nothing of concern being found. The man was examined by emergency medical services (EMS) at the scene and cleared medically.
He was then transported to the CPS Arrest Processing Section (APS) where a secondary pat-down search was conducted. During this search, a small baggie with a green substance believed to be heroin or fentanyl was located. The man had criminal warrants for his arrest, including ones for possession of drugs. Given this, he was subject to a strip search during which nothing further was found. The man then spoke with the APS’ paramedic on site. He advised that he had used methamphetamine and fentanyl within the past six hours. Nothing of concern was noted by the paramedic. The man was then placed in a cell at approximately 8:30 a.m.
ASIRT reviewed the APS logs as they relate to safety monitoring of detainees. The CPS uses a card key system, which requires the monitoring person to swipe a pad outside of each cell. This allows for a log of who conducted the physical check of the cell and when. Based on the logs, ASIRT was able to confirm that safety checks were conducted on the man at regular intervals in compliance with CPS policy.
ASIRT reviewed the CCTV video of the cell the man was in. At approximately 3:44 p.m., the man sits on the toilet and is noted reaching between his legs, appearing to retrieve something, and immediately moving his hand to his mouth. He then flushes the toilet and moves from the toilet to lay down on the bench. At 4:33 p.m., the man appears to have problems breathing as his throat is moving up and down in exaggerated movements. At 4:35 p.m., the man appears to go unconscious. At 4:36 p.m., two CPS officers enter the cell. A sternum rub is applied with no response. The man is moved to the ground, further sternum rubs are given, again with no response observed. The APS medic enters the cell, and he too gets no response from the man. The medic does a pulse check, and then leaves the cell. At 4:37 p.m. a CPS officer, who was previously a paramedic, begins CPR. At 4:39 p.m. the APS medic returns with medical gear. An automated external defibrillator is applied, and the man is given oxygen. At 4:52 p.m., EMS arrives and continues medical treatment of the man. At 5:31 p.m., EMS stops treatment of the man and pronounces him deceased.
On Oct. 21, 2024, an autopsy was conducted on the man. The medical examiner found no obvious cause of death. The medical examiner is awaiting further toxicology and other information to determine the cause of death. While this is so, there is no evidence that any officer caused or contributed to his death. Further, all the evidence supports that while in custody, the man was cared for in a proper fashion. No officers were designated as subject officers in this investigation and the ASIRT investigation is closed.
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.
This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.