Alberta watchdog clears RCMP in in-custody death of Fort McMurray man
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Alberta’s police watchdog has cleared Fort McMurray RCMP of wrongdoing in the in-custody death of a man on March 22, 2024, concluding that officers followed policy and were not criminally responsible.
According to a newly released report by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the 14-year-old man, referred to as the affected person (AP), died in an RCMP holding cell hours after being arrested for intoxication and mischief at a supportive housing facility.
RCMP responded to a 911 call on March 21, where the man was reportedly intoxicated, exposing himself in the lobby, urinating on the floor, and refusing to leave. Officers noted signs of alcohol use and possible drug residue, but no contraband was found during a search. He was cooperative with police and taken to the detachment to sober up.
ASIRT said the man was lodged in a cell around 8:20 p.m. and was observed throughout the night by civilian guards. He was last seen moving on surveillance footage at 5:10 a.m. the following morning. A guard later noticed he was unresponsive and initiated CPR. Paramedics continued life-saving efforts but declared him dead at 6:11 a.m.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was complications from chronic alcohol abuse, with alcohol and methamphetamine toxicity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease as contributing factors.
ASIRT concluded that officers and staff followed RCMP policies for prisoner care, including 15-minute checks and monitoring for responsiveness. There was no evidence of negligence or failure to provide medical care.
The investigation is now closed.
Comments