Saskatoon

Police watchdog to investigate RCMP cell death in Kamsack, Sask.

Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the death of a man in RCMP cells on June 5.

61-year-old man died in cell on June 5

rcmp cruiser in field
A 61-year-old man was arrested on June 3 and then died while on remand. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)

Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the death of a man in RCMP cells on June 5.

It began when someone approached an RCMP member in Kamsack provincial court on June 3, saying that a family member wanted on outstanding arrest warrants wished to surrender, according to a SIRT news release. RCMP made the arrest over the noon hour that same day without use of force, the release said.

The 61-year-old was searched and placed in the detachment cells.

The man appeared by video in court on June 4 and then was remanded back into RCMP custody.

The man was found unresponsive in his cell at around 7 p.m. CST on June 5. Paramedics were called and the man was declared dead at 8:37 p.m., the release said.

It did not reveal the cause of death.

SIRT is the province's civilian-led watchdog unit that investigates serious incidents involving police. Five members of SIRT are involved in the investigation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Zakreski is a reporter for CBC Saskatoon.