Man likely trying to smuggle drugs when he died in Regina police custody: watchdog

A man who died while in police custody was likely trying to smuggle drugs into a correctional facility, according to a report from Saskatchewan's police watchdog organization.

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) came to that conclusion in a report released Tuesday morning that also cleared police of any wrongdoing in the death.

SIRT investigates incidents where people are harmed or die during involvement with police.

On Aug. 21, 2023, a 23-year-old man turned himself in to Regina police in relation to warrants he had from another police service.

The man was placed in detention around noon, but began complaining of a fever, tremors and body aches later that evening.

A detention paramedic believed it to be withdrawal symptoms. The man was given non-prescription pain medication to ease the symptoms at around 2:30 a.m.CST the next day.

An hour later the man was found unresponsive in his cell and taken to Regina General Hospital in critical condition.

At the hospital, a scan revealed six packages within the man's body, SIRT's report says. Medical personnel removed five of the six packages, but the last package could not be removed.

The man died that afternoon and an autopsy revealed he died from acute methamphetamine toxicity. A laboratory analysis of the packages removed from the man show they contained methamphetamine and morphine, the report says.

"Two of the seized packages contained samples unsuitable for analysis, and as such, their contents remain unknown," the report says.

SIRT conducted with both civilians and police, as well as reviewing video footage and audio of the events leading up to the man's death.

The report said at 10 a.m. CST on Aug. 21, the man and another person took a taxi to the police station.

When they arrived, the other person remained in the taxi and instructed the driver to wait, as he wanted to make sure the man went in, and that he didn't "back out."

Once inside, the man waited in the police lobby while they verified he had warrants out for his arrest.

He told police he had no medical conditions and was not suicidal. He also said he had consumed alcohol, but denied taking any drugs within the preceding 24 hours.

The report said the man was regularly monitored by both police and paramedics at intervals of about 15 minutes while in the cell.

"Based on the evidence gathered, it appears highly likely that the affected person's reason for taking this action was to attempt to smuggle controlled substances into a correctional facility," the report concluded.

The report goes on to say that cell checks were conducted both by police and detention paramedics at regular intervals throughout the man's time in custody.

"Unfortunately, these checks were conducted without the aid of accurate information regarding the nature of the affected person's condition."

The report concluded police checks were done correctly and no charges will be laid.