Police watchdog says man sustained brain bleed from holding cell struggle with police

Alberta's police watchdog has released more details about a struggle with Calgary police that left a man seriously injured while he was being held in isolation at the city's arrest processing facility last week. 

On July 3 at around 6:50 p.m., a man was arrested on outstanding warrants and placed in a holding cell with two other men, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team said in an emailed release Wednesday.

At 8:40 p.m., police noticed the man trying to hang himself with his shirt.

Officers moved him to an isolation cell, removed his personal clothes and gave him clothes that ASIRT said were considered safe for detaining potentially suicidal or dangerous people.

At 9 p.m., police went into the isolation cell after they saw he was still trying to choke himself with the provided clothing. 

"The man refused to comply with several attempts to convince him to voluntarily remove the clothing. When officers entered the room, a struggle ensued, during which the man was injured," ASIRT said.

He was taken to hospital and was treated for bumps, bruises and facial lacerations. 

Then at 4 a.m. on July 4, he was taken back to a police holding cell. 

A few hours later, at 8:30 a.m., hospital staff reached out to police to say the man's injuries were more serious than they initially thought and requested he be returned to hospital.

He was taken back at 9 a.m. and treated for a minor brain bleed, then admitted for treatment for other health issues unrelated to the physical injuries.

He's still in hospital one week later.

ASIRT said that as the incident is under investigation, no other details will be released.