Alberta Police Watchdog Releases New Details After Man Dies During Arrest in Calgary
Alberta’s police oversight agency has released additional details about the death of a man who became unresponsive while in Calgary police custody last week.
The man had been arrested following reports of unusual behaviour and an alleged break-and-enter in the northeast Calgary community of Abbeydale.
Police Called to Reports of Unusual Behaviour
According to information released Thursday by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, Calgary police received calls at approximately 9 p.m. on July 11.
Residents reported seeing a man entering residential yards in Abbeydale and behaving unusually.
Police began responding to the area to locate the individual and investigate the complaints.
Man Allegedly Entered Home and Attempted Stabbing
Shortly before 9:30 p.m., officers received another report involving a man believed to be connected to the earlier calls.
ASIRT said the individual had allegedly entered a home in the community and attempted to stab someone inside.
Only a few minutes later, police officers found a man they believed was associated with the reported incidents.
Energy Weapons Used During Arrest
During the arrest, officers deployed conducted energy weapons, commonly known as Tasers.
ASIRT said the man then fell into a narrow side yard located between a garage and a fence.
Police placed him under arrest and moved him to a nearby backyard, where officers began checking his physical condition.
Man Was Initially Conscious and Speaking
According to ASIRT, the man remained conscious and was able to speak after being taken into custody.
He also briefly resisted or struggled against the handcuffs while officers assessed him.
Police contacted emergency medical services to request medical assistance.
Officers Performed CPR After Man Became Unresponsive
A short time after emergency services were called, the man became unresponsive.
Officers immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Emergency medical personnel continued treating the man and transported him to hospital. However, he later died.
Authorities have not released his identity or confirmed the medical cause of his death.
Incident Classified as Level 1 Investigation
The Police Review Commission directed ASIRT to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
The incident has been classified as a Level 1 matter under Alberta’s Police Act.
This classification applies to police-related incidents involving death or serious injury, as well as serious or sensitive allegations concerning the actions of police officers.
Investigation Will Examine Police Actions
ASIRT is expected to review the circumstances leading up to the arrest, the deployment of conducted energy weapons and the medical assistance provided after the man became unresponsive.
The investigation will also examine relevant evidence, which may include police reports, emergency response records, witness statements and available video footage.
No conclusions have been announced regarding whether the officers’ actions were appropriate or whether they contributed to the man’s death.
The death of the man following his arrest in Abbeydale is now the subject of a serious independent investigation. ASIRT has confirmed that conducted energy weapons were used before the man was taken into custody and later became unresponsive.
Investigators will work to determine exactly what happened during the arrest and whether the actions of the officers complied with Alberta law and police procedures.
