Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has launched an investigation into the death of an Edmonton man following an interaction with Edmonton Police Service (EPS) officers at his residence.
According to information released by ASIRT on November 5, the incident took place in the early hours of October 11, after police received a request to check on the man’s well-being.
At approximately 3 a.m., a woman contacted EPS and sought a wellness check, expressing concern after the man reportedly made comments about taking his own life. The man subsequently contacted Emergency Medical Services (EMS) himself and informed them that he had consumed a large quantity of pills.
Two EPS officers were dispatched to the residence to assess the situation. Upon reaching the home, they spoke with the man’s mother, who was present at the time. She reportedly told the officers that she believed her son had taken an excessive amount of various medications along with alcohol.
The man was asleep, and his mother was looking after him. She assured the officers that she would stay with him until paramedics arrived. The officers subsequently left the residence.
However, his condition later worsened, prompting his mother to contact emergency services again. She attempted to save his life by performing CPR while waiting for medical assistance.
Paramedics arrived and carried out life-saving efforts for approximately 30 minutes. Despite their attempts, the man was pronounced dead shortly before 7 a.m.
ASIRT has taken up the investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the interaction between the man and police officers. The agency said the information released so far reflects what investigators have established at this preliminary stage, adding that further details could not be shared to protect the integrity of the investigation.
ASIRT operates under the Police Review Commission, an independent civilian-led body responsible for investigating potential criminal offences involving police officers across Alberta, particularly incidents involving serious injuries or deaths.
