Ministry of Justice joins investigation into man’s death in Regina

An independent observer has been appointed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice to assist the Regina police in their investigation of what’s now being called an in-custody death.

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service also is probing the man’s death, which occurred Dec. 30 in the 2200 block of 14th Avenue.

According to police, officers responded at about 3:45 a.m., to a house in the 2200 block of Smith Street to arrest a man who had been identified as an unwanted guest and an individual wanted on warrants.

When officers arrived at the house, no one answered the door. The officers then went to a house in the 2200 block of 14th Avenue where they found a man with a gun.

The police media release didn’t say why the officers went to the second house.

The release added that “preliminary information indicates the weapon was discharged and the male fell to the floor,” but it noted those “circumstances and actions are yet to be thoroughly investigated.”

“There were two police officers at the scene when this occurred, but it is believed there was no physical contact between police and the suspect, nor did the officers discharge their firearms,” the release added.

Paramedics were called and confirmed the man was dead. The release said police subsequently determined the man was the individual who had been identified as the unwanted guest in the earlier call.

Police didn’t release the man’s name.

“As police were at the scene with the intention of arresting the adult male, this incident will be investigated as an ‘in-custody death,'” said the release, noting the Ministry of Justice appointed the observer after being advised of the incident.