SIRT Investigates Medical Distress Following Arrest in Prince Albert

Released on April 4, 2023

On Saturday, April 1 at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) received a notification from the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) regarding an in-custody serious injury during a vehicle stop related to a stolen vehicle investigation. 

SIRT's Civilian Executive Director accepted the notification as within SIRT's mandate and directed an investigation by SIRT. 

Earlier that evening, a black Dodge Avenger was reported stolen by its owner. That vehicle was subsequently located and a member of PAPS executed a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by three individuals, including the vehicle's registered owner. Other PAPS patrol units attended the location of the traffic stop. During the interaction that followed, police attempted to take a 40-year-old man into custody and an altercation occurred. 

During that altercation, the vehicle was put into motion, colliding with a marked PAPS vehicle, and several intermediate weapons were used by police, including conducted energy weapons (CEWs), collapsible batons, and Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray. 

Once the man had been taken into custody, EMS attended the scene, and the man was observed to be in medical distress. EMS provided care and the man was transported to hospital where he remains in serious condition. 

Immediately following the notification, a SIRT team consisting of the Civilian Executive Director and four SIRT Investigators was deployed to the scene in Prince Albert and began their investigation.  A community liaison will also be appointed pursuant to S.91.12(1)(a) of The Police Act, 1990. During the course of SIRT's investigation, a loaded handgun was recovered from the incident scene and secured as an exhibit.

SIRT's investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man's arrest and the cause of his injury. PAPS will maintain conduct of the investigation into the man and his actions. No further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.

SIRT's mandate is to independently investigate incidents where an individual has died or suffered serious injury arising from the actions of on and off-duty police officers, or while in the custody of police, as well as allegations of sexual assault or interpersonal violence involving police.

For updates on SIRT investigations, follow SIRT on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SIRT_SK.

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