The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the death of a man following his arrest by the RCMP in The Pas on October 6, 2019.
According to the notification received on October 6, 2019, the RCMP advised officers responded to an intoxicated person call, arrested a male, and lodged him in cells in the RCMP detachment in The Pas around 7:00 p.m. Officers checked on the individual in the early hours of October 6 and found him unresponsive. EMS attended and pronounced the male deceased.
As this matter concerned the death of a person that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer(s), IIU assumed responsibility for this mandatory investigation in accordance with section 66(4) of The Police Services Act (PSA). IIU investigators were assigned to this investigation.
Further, in accordance with section 70(1) of the PSA, the IIU was required to seek the appointment of a civilian monitor, as this matter involved the death of a person. IIU requested a civilian monitor be appointed by the Manitoba Police Commission.
Due to the dearth of information at the outset of this investigation as to whether any actions by any RCMP officer contributed, to any degree, to the death of AP, it was decided that no subject officer designation would be made. Three designated witness officers were interviewed by IIU investigators. IIU investigators interviewed five civilian witnesses. IIU investigators met with and interviewed two paramedics. Finally, IIU investigators consulted with the province’s Chief Medical Examiner (CME) in review of the autopsy and toxicology reports.
In addition, RCMP material and other information obtained by IIU investigators included:
- situation report
- occurrence summary
- scene photographs
- cell video
- prisoner report
- notes and reports from witness officers
- prisoner/cell log sheets
- autopsy report
- toxicology report
Following the completion of this investigation, the civilian director requested a review and opinion from the Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS) on whether any Criminal Code charges should be authorized against any individual referenced in this investigation. In this case, after considering the evidence, the MPS concluded there is no basis for any criminal charges.
