The man repeatedly told police he didn’t want to die just minutes before he died following an altercation where officers applied ‘various uses of force’ in a hotel lobby
Details have been revealed in what Calgary police called a “struggle” that resulted in the death of a man in custody last week.
The man repeatedly told police he didn’t want to die just minutes before he died following an altercation where officers applied “various uses of force” in a hotel lobby, according to a Wednesday release from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).
“A lone officer (officer 1) was first to arrive and entered the lobby to find the man standing near the check-in desk,” said ASIRT, explaining that the interaction was captured by the officer’s body-worn camera.
“The male is standing with his hands in full view and does not possess any weapons. The officer orders the male to leave the lobby by issuing commands such as ‘out’ and ‘walk out.’”
The man continued to stand in place, acting in a “confused” fashion, such as attempting to pick up items off the floor that were clearly non-existent.
“After approximately 30 seconds of speaking with the male, the officer points his conducted energy weapon (CEW) at the male and orders the male to leave the lobby,” ASIRT said. “The male raises his hands and confirms he’ll leave and asks the officer not to shoot him.”
Beginning to leave the lobby while officer 1 continues pointing the weapon at him, the man walked slowly towards the main door with his hands raised while saying to the officer, “I don’t want to die”.
The lone officer then told the male to stop talking and continued to point the weapon at him.
Two other CPS officers (officers 2 and 3) then arrived on scene, walking through the main doors towards the male.
“At this point, the male stops walking but continues to state that he doesn’t want to die.”
Officer 1 then holstered his CEW and attempted to grab the male.
“At no point during the interaction had the male been identified, nor was he ever told he was being detained or under arrest. The male physically resists being grabbed and then is tackled by officer 2, who then punches the male in the head while both are on the ground.”
During that time, both officers 1 and 3 deployed their CEWs, and over the next three and a half minutes, the three officers and the male were involved in a physical altercation with “various uses of force resorted to by the officers.”
Once on the floor, the man was detained with handcuffs and leg restraints.
Numerous other CPS officers then arrived on scene, and the man was “noted to be bleeding from the mouth and vomits.”
A “spit mask” was then applied while he was lying face down on the floor.
EMS administered a sedative to the man approximately seven minutes after he had been handcuffed, while he was still lying face down.
“The male is then left face down in handcuffs, leg restraints and a spit mask for about another three minutes until it is noted that he is unresponsive. The male was then provided medical care but declared deceased at the scene.”
Part of ASIRT’s mandate is to independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person.
“ASIRT’s investigation will examine the use of force by the officers. No additional information will be released,” it said.