SASKATOON – It has been two days since police received several calls regarding a man running into oncoming traffic at 22nd Street and Avenue P at 12:20 p.m. CT on Friday. When police arrived on scene, they arrested and charged a 38-year-old man with breach of court conditions and outstanding warrants.
At the time, police said the man “displayed symptoms of intoxication.”
READ MORE: Man found unresponsive in Saskatoon police cell dies
In a press release, police state that the man was transported to the police station and placed in the detention unit. At approximately 3:20 p.m., three hours after the arrest, the man was found “unresponsive in his cell” by staff.
The press release says fire and ambulance provided “emergency medical attention” and transported the man to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police are not commenting beyond the press release due to the ongoing investigation.
However, Terance Grady tells Global News that he is the stepbrother of the deceased, who he identified as Michael Ryan.
“He had a big heart. I can tell you he had a very big heart. He would have taken the shirt off his back for anyone in our family,” Grady said.
He has many questions about what happened at the police station.
“My question is, how many people need to die before they actually give these people medical attention before they put them in a cell?” Grady said.
Grady hopes there will be a policy change and full-time medical staff will be allowed to assess those entering the detention center.
“Why do you not have a 24-hour on-call nurse to get them medically cleared?”
According to police, one paramedic funded by Action Accord is available in the detention centre from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., however they do not work during the day.
Police say the Major Crime Unit along with the office of the chief coroner are investigating the death.
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