Calgary

Watchdog investigating after senior dies following police intervention in Alberta hospital

RCMP say the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating after a 72-year-old man died in a Sundre, Alta. hospital. 

RCMP said ‘a physical confrontation occurred’ right before the man went into medical distress

A photo of a piece of paper that says ASIRT.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been directed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the actions of the police following a man's death in Sundre, Alta. (ASIRT)

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating after a 72-year-old man died in a Sundre, Alta. hospital following a police intervention, the RCMP says. 

On Friday around 11 a.m. police received a call from an Alberta Health Services peace officer to assist with a "physically violent" person at a local hospital there, approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Calgary.  

A physical confrontation happened between the man and police. Following it the man went into medical distress, dying in hospital around 12:20 p.m., the RCMP said.

The ASIRT is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the actions of police and the peace officer, according to a news release by the RCMP. 

The RCMP is also carrying out an internal review to gather a full account of what took place — meaning police training and response, policy and the duty status of the members involved will be subject to review.