Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): An investigation has been launched into the death of a woman following her arrest by the Edmonton Police Service in Edmonton.
The incident occurred on March 26, when police responded to reports of a disturbance at a restaurant in the Mill Woods area around 6:30 p.m. Witnesses told officers that the woman was behaving erratically, shouting and alarming customers. Upon spotting police, she reportedly ran to another nearby eatery and locked herself inside a washroom.
Officers located and detained her before calling paramedics to assess her condition. However, officials said she did not cooperate with medical personnel at the scene.
Around 7 p.m., the woman was transported to the Detainee Management Unit, a facility used to monitor individuals considered vulnerable or at risk. Police stated that her erratic behaviour continued during transit. Shortly after arrival, staff found her unresponsive and immediately contacted emergency medical services. She was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead soon after.
Following the incident, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was directed to take over the case. The investigation has been classified as a Level 1 matter under the Police Act, which typically involves cases of serious injury, death, or concerns about police conduct.
Authorities emphasized that the details released so far are preliminary, and the investigation is ongoing. Officials are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant video footage to come forward.
ASIRT, an independent civilian-led body, is responsible for examining serious incidents involving police across Alberta, including those that result in fatalities or raise questions about officer actions.
