ASIRT investigating death of man in Red Deer RCMP custody

Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating after a man died in hospital after suffering injuries while in police custody in Red Deer.

In a Monday release, the Red Deer RCMP say officers were called to a home on 50 Avenue on March 25 after getting reports of a man “acting erratically” and running on the roadway.

Responding officers located the man and took him into custody.

RCMP say the man appeared to be in medical distress while he was being held at their Red Deer detachment. EMS were called in and when paramedics arrived the man became unresponsive, according to police.

“Life-saving measures and CPR were initiated and the male was transported to the Red Deer Regional Hospital where he was being monitored in the ICU,” reads the police release.

Police say they were made aware that the man had died from his injuries in hospital on Sunday afternoon.

The RCMP has been directed to investigate under the oversight of the Alberta Serious Incident Team (ASIRT). The RCMP say they are fully cooperating with the review process.

“Events like this are difficult for everyone involved, however the RCMP believes in accountability and transparency and will provide full transparency to ASIRT,” reads the release.

ASIRT investigates any incidents resulting in serious injury or death to a person in the presence of officers.