No charges in 2023 death of Brandon man who was in police custody: Watchdog

Arturo Chang · CBC News

· Posted: May 07, 2025 3:01 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

Manitoba's constabulary watchdog says it's not pursuing charges successful the decease of a antheral who was successful constabulary custody successful Brandon 2 years ago.

The Independent Investigation Unit has wrapped up its probe into the August 2023 death, which a aesculapian examiner said was caused by methamphetamine toxicity.

The antheral had been arrested for formation from police, breach of merchandise and drug-related offences, and was being held successful Brandon Police Service cells. He displayed "unusual behaviour" portion helium was successful custody, the constabulary watchdog said successful a quality merchandise Wednesday.

The antheral had fled from Brandon constabulary connected a motorcycle aft being approached by an officer, who did not prosecute him, said the IIU's civilian director's study connected the death.

He was aboriginal seen moving in a ditch, and a ft chase culminated successful his apprehension connected Aug. 19, 2023.

Police reported to the IIU that soon aft the antheral returned to his camera-monitored compartment from a bail hearing, the antheral was behaving unusually, truthful officers checked connected him and looked astir his cell, but the man said helium wasn't doing anything.

The civilian manager said that based connected video footage, it was wide the antheral lifted up the country of his cell's mattress and picked up thing disconnected the compartment level earlier the serviceman checked connected him.

A fewer minutes later, the antheral was down connected the floor, and erstwhile an serviceman checked connected him, he said he'd taken an ounce of meth.

The antheral was coherent and showed nary signs of intoxication, constabulary told the IIU, but erstwhile helium was down connected the level again little than 10 minutes later, an ambulance was called, and Brandon and Fire and Emergency Services responded.

Video footage shows 16 minutes betwixt the archetypal clip the antheral was checked and the ambulance was called, the IIU study says. Medical unit arrived astir 7 minutes later. 

First responders who attended the country said the antheral was convulsing erstwhile they arrived.

His condition quickly deteriorated. He was taken to the Brandon Regional Health Centre, wherever helium was declared dead.

Three constabulary officers, 5 nonrecreational witnesses and 2 civilian witnesses (who were monitoring compartment video feeds) provided statements to investigators.

The IIU civilian director did not authorize charges and closed the case.