No Further Details Available Regarding In Custody Death

By Robert Thomas

It happened on October 7th, 2021 but still the identity and the circumstances surrounding the death of a 40 year man while in Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) custody have yet to be released.

At a recent media scrum MJPS Chief Rick Bourassa was asked if he could provide an update regarding the death. Chief Bourassa responded he could not provide any further details because the death was still under investigation by the Regina Police Service.

“That investigation continues and we expect it again working with the Coroner’s Office and we did ask another police agency, the Regina Police Service, to conduct that death investigation with the Coroner’s Office,” Chief Bourassa said.

Having an outside police agency investigate an in custody death is a requirement of the Saskatchewan Police Act.

The MJPS has also asked the Ministry of Justice to appoint an independent observer in the case.

The Chief went on to explain that because it happened in custody it is likely there will be an inquest.

“I can’t speak for the Coroner’s Office but it is likely (there will be) an inquest into that and everything will come out. That process can take some time,” he said.

Asked if there was a pending civil suit from the prisoner’s family regarding the death Chief Bourassa said he had heard nothing about it.

“It hasn’t come to my desk,” he said.

According to a MJPS release issued at the time of the incident MJPS officers had been speaking to the man only minutes before the incident. When they returned and found - the still to be identified 40 year old prisoner - in distress they attempted to save his life by using CPR and EMS was called to the MJPS’s cells.

The man was held in an individual cell.