Melfort RCMP cleared after SIRT investigation into in-custody death

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has wrapped up its investigation into an in-custody death in Melfort last year. 

They concluded there was no evidence that use of force by police caused or contributed to the death of a 44-year-old man taken into custody. 

The autopsy report confirmed the cause of the individual’s death was acute cocaine toxicity, with coronary artery disease as a contributing factor. 

The report stated that “accords with the substantial volume of video evidence documenting the absence of any meaningful use of force during the affected person’s interactions with the RCMP.”