Man Dies in Winnipeg Police Custody (April 16, 2019)

The Independent Investigative Unit (IIU), the agency that examines cases of police harm to civilians in Manitoba, is investigating the death of a 56-year-old man in custody of Winnipeg police on April 16, 2019. Initial reports suggest that Winnipeg police officers arrested the man a little after 5 PM after responding to a call regarding an assault and disturbance at a home in North Point Douglas.

At the home, police allegedly found an injured man in his 50s and the man was taken to hospital, supposedly in stable condition. Officers also allegedly arrested someone they claim was a suspect near Main Street and Sutherland Avenue. He was taken to the North District station for processing. The arrested man was later found unresponsive in a holding cell and was taken to hospital in critical condition. Police report that he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

No other details have been released publicly, including how or why the man became “unresponsive” or when that was first noticed. None of the information reported by police has been independently confirmed publicly.

Man Dies Following Police Interaction, IIO Discontinues Investigation (April 6/7, 2019)

A man died following an interaction with Saanich Police (British Columbia) on April 6, 2019. It has been reported that police had contact with the man on April 6, 2019. The man was then hospitalized overnight and died after being released from hospital on April 7.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO), the agency that examines cases of police harm to civilians, has announced that it has discontinued the investigation despite reporting publicly that “Saanich Police notified the IIO regarding an incident that resulted in the death of a male on April 7, 2019.” No further details have been released publicly, including why the investigation was ended if police were involved in an incident resulting in someone’s death, or what the incident was specifically.

The investigation into this death will now be undertaken by the BC Coroners Service.

Police Fire Weapons, Two Dead in Alleged Hostage Taking in Surrey, BC (Mar. 29, 2019)

Two people have been left dead after police fired shots during an alleged hostage taking in Surrey, British Columbia on March 29, 2019. The Independent Investigations Office (IIO), the agency that examines cases of police harm to civilians in British Columbia, has reported that the victims were a man and a woman who knew each other. Friends and family of the woman who was killed have identified her as Nona McEwan. It has been reported that RCMP and the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team were called to a home at 98A Avenue and 133 Street (13300 98A) around 9:30 PM.

The IIO have reported publicly that at around 7:30 AM the Emergency Response Team (ERT) entered the home and “a confrontation” with an allegedly “barricaded male ensued.” This encounter ended with the discharge of gunfire by police. It has been reported that the body of a man was recovered and that he had been shot. It has not been stated publicly who fired the fatal shot or shots. A woman was also found to have been injured and, again, the source of the injury or injuries ahs not been disclosed. The woman was taken to hospital where she later died.

No other confirmed details have been released publicly at the time of this posting.