Investigators say RCMP were not the cause of a Fort Smith prisoner’s death last month.
On October 16, police say a male prisoner at the local RCMP holding facility entered “medical distress” while he was incarcerated.
The man was treated locally before being sent to Edmonton for further treatment. Police say he died nine days later – on October 25 – after being sent back to Fort Smith.
A cause of death has not yet been determined, but an initial report from the territory’s chief coroner’s office suggests that the man’s death wasn’t caused by police nor could it have been prevented by emergency workers on site.
There are also no indications that his death was the result of any criminal act or omission.
Two days prior to the death – on October 23 – an external review was ordered by RCMP in the territory.
The purpose of the review, which is being conducted by the Medicine Hat Police Service, is to determine if proper procedure was followed throughout the man’s incarceration.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and that an update will be provided once it’s complete.
