Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has launched an investigation into the in-custody death of a 44-year-old man at the Melfort RCMP detachment on Tuesday.According to a release from SIRT, the man was arrested on the morning of May 6 under the Mental Health Services Act after RCMP responded to a disturbance at a home in Melfort. He was reported to be acting erratically and had a hand injury.RCMP officers transported the man to the detachment, where he was placed in a cell at 10:14 am CST. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) had been contacted earlier during the drive and assessed the man four minutes later. EMS then transported him to the hospital, accompanied by an RCMP officer in a separate vehicle. The man was not restrained during the ambulance ride.At the hospital, another disturbance took place. The attending RCMP member took the man back into custody, and a physical altercation reportedly occurred during the arrest. The man was handcuffed and returned to the Melfort RCMP detachment, where he was re-lodged in a cell at approximately 10:44 am CST..The man remained in custody until around 5:10 pm CST, when RCMP members observed he was in medical distress. Officers began first aid and moved him to the hallway for more space before EMS arrived at 5:16 pm CST. He was transported to the hospital at 5:36 pm CST, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead later that evening.SIRT’s Civilian Executive Director deemed the incident within its mandate and deployed a team of five investigators to Melfort. A community liaison will also be appointed.SIRT says its investigation will focus on police conduct during the arrest and detention, and the circumstances that led to the man’s death. The RCMP remains responsible for the initial disturbance investigation.A final report will be made public within 90 days of the investigation’s conclusion.
