On that day at about 5:03 p.m., CPS members were dispatched to a weapons complaint at the Marlborough CTrain station in northeast Calgary. Police attended and located the 42-year-old man, who was the subject of the complaint. A search of the man revealed, among other items, an airsoft pistol and alcohol. As the man was bound by conditions of a probation order prohibiting him from consuming or possessing alcohol, he was placed under arrest for breaching that condition. The arrest was captured on CPS body-worn cameras that show the man was cooperative, and the arrest occurred without incident or use of force.
Following his arrest, the man was transported by CPS to the Spyhill Services Centre, where he was examined by the on-duty paramedic and lodged in cells at about 6:15 p.m. While the man was in custody, he was subject to routine cell checks and, at 8 p.m., he was provided with a meal. At the next cell check, which occurred at about 8:10 p.m., the man was observed to be unresponsive in his cell. The on-duty paramedic was contacted, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was called, and emergency measures were attempted until the man was pronounced dead at about 8:42 p.m. A subsequent autopsy revealed no signs of physical trauma to the man’s body.
ASIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s time in custody and the events leading up to his incarceration. With ASIRT’s investigation underway, no further information will be released at this time.
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.