North

Calgary Police to investigate death of man in Pond Inlet, Nunavut

Denis Lambe with the Nunavut RCMP told CBC News the Calgary Police Service will investigate the death, but they haven't yet been able to fly up to Pond Inlet because of capacity on their end. 

Police haven't said how man died

Brown and tan striped building, water, mountains.
The RCMP detachment in Pond Inlet, Nunavut. (David Gunn/CBC)

Another police force will investigate the Nunavut RCMP after a man in Pond Inlet died during an interaction with police on May 4. 

Denis Lambe with the Nunavut RCMP told CBC News the Calgary Police Service will investigate the death, but they haven't yet been able to fly up to Pond Inlet because of capacity on their end. 

The Nunavut RCMP has an agreement with Ottawa and Calgary Police to investigate circumstances where people die in police custody. 

Lambe also said the person who died was not shot by police, calling it instead a "possible in-custody death."

"Calgary Police Service eventually will be the primary investigator on that possible in-custody death." he said. 

"It's because we were there on scene. This is why the external investigation is going to be done," he added. "The cause of death will then come out from that investigation."

Lambe also said the Ottawa Police Service was not available to investigate.

Last week, Lambe told CBC police attended a call for assistance of a male in distress who was inside a home with a firearm.

Lambe said police set up around the residence and told the public to stay away from the area. 

The male later exited the residence with a firearm before he died. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emma Tranter

Reporter/Editor

Emma Tranter is a reporter with CBC North in Yellowknife, mostly covering Nunavut's Kitikmeot region. She worked in journalism in Nunavut for five years, where she reported in Iqaluit for CBC, The Canadian Press and Nunatsiaq News. She can be reached at emma.tranter@cbc.ca.