Update: June 21, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
As a result of an independent investigation conducted by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), it has been determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that members of the Saint John Police Force committed a criminal offence in connection with the tragic death of a man who died in police cells.
A summary of the SiRT Investigation can be found here: http://sirt.novascotia.ca
The Saint John Police remain committed to the highest standards of accountability, professionalism, and transparency to maintain public trust and confidence.
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File: 23-8122
On Thursday, December 14, 2023, shortly before 6:00 p.m., members of the Saint John Police detained a 48-year-old man under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act. The man was transported to the Saint John Police detention facility.
While in custody, the man was found unresponsive in his cell. Officers administered life-saving measures until paramedics arrived at scene and continued life-saving measures. Tragically, however, the man was pronounced deceased.
The Coroner’s Office and the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) were immediately contacted to attend the scene. The Saint John Police are fully cooperating with SiRT who has assumed responsibility for the independent investigation.
SiRT is an investigative agency, independent of the police, whose mandate is to investigate matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and domestic violence or other matters of significant public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer.
The Saint John Police sends our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased at this most difficult time.
