The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the death of a male who was detained by the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) on November 4, 2021.
On that day, the WPS notified the IIU of a call for service about a male who was behaving aggressively and erratically on the road on Osborne Street. According to the notification, officers arrived on scene at approximately 7:15 p.m. They detained and handcuffed the individual, and he subsequently collapsed. The Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service (WFPS) was on site and immediately administered CPR. The male was transported to St. Boniface Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
The IIU assumed responsibility for this investigation in accordance with section 65(4) of the Police Services Act. As the matter involved a fatality, a request for a civilian monitor was made to the Manitoba Police Commission.
Investigators were assigned and reviewed information including:
- WPS dispatch call history;
- 911 telephone call history and audio;
- WPS officers’ notes and narratives;
- Forensic Identification Service reports;
- photographs of scene and exhibits;
- WFPS patient care report;
- surveillance video recordings from the Legislative Building grounds, Canada Life building and Winnipeg Transit; and
- autopsy and toxicology reports.
The civilian director designated five WPS officers as witness officers. IIU investigators met with, interviewed and reviewed the written statements of 12 civilian witnesses, including firefighters and paramedics.
The civilian director found no evidence to support a finding that any police officer contributed to the cause of the affected person’s death at any level, either by action or inaction. Therefore, there are no grounds to justify the designation of any police officer as a subject officer and no further requirement or need by the IIU to continue investigating the matter.
