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Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice has released more information about the death of a man in the Regina Police Service’s cells, including that “several packages containing an unknown substance” were removed from the man’s body after his death.
In a media release Wednesday afternoon, the ministry said the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) was told about the incident on Tuesday just before 4:45 a.m.
According to the release, a 23-year-old man turned himself in at the front counter of the Regina police headquarters on Saskatchewan Drive on Monday morning, telling police he was wanted on warrants from another police service.
The ministry said the man waited in the lobby while the warrants were confirmed with that other service, and then was arrested and put in a cell just before noon.
The release said that at around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, the man was found unresponsive in his cell and paramedics were called. Lifesaving measures were started by police officers and paramedics before the man was taken to Regina’s General Hospital in critical condition.
At about 4:50 p.m., the man was pronounced dead.
According to the ministry, the Saskatchewan Coroners Service was notified and started an investigation, which is to include an autopsy, toxicology and microscopy.
Greg Gudelot, SIRT’s civilian executive director, was notified of the incident and ordered an investigation by the team. Gudelot and five SIRT investigators have started that probe, with a community liaison to be appointed to join in the investigation.
“While the man was in hospital, several packages containing an unknown substance or substances were removed from the man’s body, which have been seized as exhibits and will be submitted for testing as part of SIRT’s investigation,” the media release said.
“SIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the cause of and the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.”
The team’s release didn’t specify whether the packages were found in the man’s clothing or within his body itself.
The release added that no other information about the incident would be released at this time, but noted a final report is to be issued to the public within 90 days of the end of the investigation.
The SIRT was created after the budget of 2021 to provide oversight of police forces in the province. According to the release, the team’s mandate “is to independently investigate incidents where an individual has died or suffered serious injury arising from the actions of on- and off-duty police officers, or while in the custody of police, as well as allegations of sexual assault or interpersonal violence involving police.”