Police watchdog investigating in-custody death on James Smith Cree Nation

The province's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the death of a 29-year-old man who went into 'medical distress' after his arrest by RCMP on the James Smith Cree Nation, 140 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

It happened around 7:55 a.m. on April 28, RCMP said in a news release.

Officers from the Melfort detachment were called to the First Nation after getting a report that a man had used bear spray inside a house. A second caller reported the suspect was in the basement of the house and may have used an illicit substance.

The man took off from the house when officers arrived and was arrested in the backyard.

"Immediately after his arrest, the adult male went into medical distress in the backyard," the release said.

"Officers immediately called EMS, administered naloxone multiple times, and provided CPR until EMS arrived. The 29-year-old male was declared deceased by EMS at the scene."

The man's family has been notified. RCMP did not release his name.

Under the terms of provincial law, SIRT will investigate the circumstances of the death and provide a report.