Man dies in RCMP custody
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
An intoxicated man died while in the care of the RCMP after arriving at the Gleichen detachment.
The 47-year-old Strathmore man had been causing a disturbance in the Vulcan hospital, being verbally abusive to the staff and disruptive. RCMP were called to the scene where they arrested the man to begin transport to Gleichen.
“It’s about an hour drive but there are no cells in Vulcan and so Gleichen was the next closest place,” said Sgt. Patrick Webb. The results weren’t in yet, but an autopsy was to be done to help determine what the cause of death was.
“Unless he died of something which is obvious to the pathologist – they will end up doing a toxicology,” said Webb.
“Vulcan does not have secure facilities for someone like that, so when you get somebody that’s being very disruptive they can’t treat him. If he’s medically sound, all they can do is release him to the RCMP.”
After arriving in Gleichen the arresting officers noticed the man was in medical distress and quickly becoming unresponsive, and they called EMS.
The paramedics worked on the man trying to resuscitate him, but were unable to revive him.
“Its very unfortunate to have this happen, we don’t want anybody to die in our custody, but in this case it appears to be a medical dysfunction of some type and we are just waiting on the medical examiner to give their word on that,” said Webb.
The man’s name had not been released at press time. The RCMP Major Crimes Unit will lead the investigation into the circumstances behind the death.
Injury Motor Vehicle Collision at the Intersection of Secondary Highway 817 & 901
On May 14, 2010 at approximately 11:50 p.m., Stathmore RCMP, Fire and EMS were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Secondary Highway 817 and Secondary Highway 901.
As a result of the initial investigation, it is believed that a 1991 GMC Sierra pickup truck was stopped at the stop sign on Highway 817, South of Highway 901. As a Westbound semi tractor-trailer was approaching the intersection, the driver of the pickup pulled north into the intersection and was stuck by the semi tractor-trailer.
The two 18-year-old males in the pickup sustained serious injury. The driver of the pickup was transported by STARS air ambulance to the Foothills Hospital. The passenger was also transported to the Foothills via ground ambulance, where they have both been treated for their injuries. The driver of the semi was not injured in the collision.
An RCMP collision reconstruction analyst is assisting the Strathmore RCMP members with scene investigation. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor at this time. The collision is still under investigation.