Alberta’s police watchdog investigating in-custody death in Edmonton

EDMONTON – The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been called in to investigate after a man in the Edmonton Police Service’s custody was taken to hospital early Thursday morning and later died.

According to ASIRT, an intoxicated 47-year-old man was arrested for theft under $5,000 and breaching his bail conditions shortly after midnight. He was put in a cell block and was found lying unresponsive on the floor just three hours later. ASIRT said paramedics were called while officers gave him emergency medical assistance. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

ASIRT said the man had no visible signs of traumatic injury when he died. An autopsy has already been conducted but a cause of death won’t be determined until toxicology results are in.

The focus of ASIRT’s investigation will be on the events leading up to the man’s death as well as the officers’ involvement with him.

ASIRT is tasked with investigating any incident involving Alberta law enforcement officers that result in serious injury or death as well as serious allegations of police misconduct.