Manitoba’s police watchdog agency is investigating the death of a 54-year-old man who was arrested by The Pas RCMP Oct. 5 and found dead in the detachment cells early the next day.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU), which has jurisdiction over serious incidents involving on- and off-duty police officers in Manitoba, was notified of the man’s death by The Pas RCMP Oct. 6 and assumed responsibility for investigating his death in accordance with section 65(1) of the Police Services Act. Because a death occurred, a request for a civilian monitor will be made to the Manitoba Police Commission.
The man was arrested by officers responding to an intoxicated person call around 7 p.m. and lodged in The Pas RCMP detachment cells. When officers checked on him in the early hours of Oct. 6, they found him unresponsive and called emergency medical services personnel, who attended the scene and pronounced the man dead.
The IIU asks witnesses or anyone who has information or video footage that may assist the investigation to contact them at 1-844-667-6060.
