The Saskatchewan police oversight body has determined that no police officers committed any Criminal Code violations in the case of a man from the James Smith Cree Nation who died while in RCMP custody last year.
According to the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), JSCN security personnel informed the Melfort RCMP at approximately 7:55 a.m. CST on April 28, 2025, that a man had discharged a substance inside a residence, causing those inside to cough. It was reported that the man was of large physical stature, had a history of mental health issues, and was agitated.
Family members of the man contacted the RCMP a few minutes later, stating that he had used pepper spray inside the residence. Five JSCN peacekeepers arrived at the scene first but opted to wait for the RCMP due to concerns about the man’s size, mental health issues, and past unpredictable behavior.
The primary officer involved had interacted with the man previously and engaged in a calm conversation with him. However, the man displayed confrontational behavior and exhibited signs of a mental health crisis, including making statements indicating a willingness to “fight to the death.”
At around 8:51 a.m., the man was informed of his arrest, but he fled out a rear door of the residence upon the officer’s approach. After a brief pursuit, the man complied with commands to stop, raised his hands, and lay on the ground as officers moved to detain him.
As the man resisted and claimed to be experiencing a heart attack, officers restrained him without applying pressure to his back. Despite his struggles, no excessive force was used during the incident. Medical assistance was provided promptly after the man became unresponsive.
An autopsy revealed that the man’s death was caused by positional asphyxia compounded by acute methamphetamine and cocaine toxicity. Toxicology results indicated the presence of these substances in his system at levels that could have contributed to his death.
Extensive video footage from various sources, including body-worn and in-car cameras, provided a detailed account of the incident. The evidence confirmed that no conducted energy weapon (CEW) was discharged during the encounter, contrary to a civilian witness’s account.
The review concluded that the officers made concerted efforts to peacefully resolve the situation and facilitate the man’s access to mental health services. The level of restraint applied was deemed appropriate given the circumstances, and there was no evidence of reckless behavior endangering the man’s life.
Overall, the report found that the officers’ actions were reasonable and responsive to the situation, with no indication of criminal negligence in their handling of the incident.