Attempted drug smuggling found to be the cause of 2023 in-custody death at RPS headquarters

WATCH: SIRT has cleared RPS of any wrongdoing, after a 2023 in-custody death was found to be due to attempted drug smuggling.

Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) says no officers were at fault after a man was found unresponsive inside a cell at Regina Police Service (RPS) headquarters and later died in hospital. The investigation concluded that the man was most likely attempting to smuggle drugs and died as a result.

The incident itself took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.

According to the report, a 23-year-old man turned himself in at the front counter of RPS headquarters after revealing he was wanted on two warrants from the File Hills Police Service.

Once the details were confirmed, the man was arrested and placed in the headquarters detention block just before midnight on Aug. 21.

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Several hours later, the man was found unresponsive in his cell and paramedics were called. Both officers and EMS provided first aid, and the man was transported to Regina General Hospital in critical condition.

At 4:48 a.m., the man was pronounced dead.

His cause of death was confirmed as acute methamphetamine toxicity, according to the report.

The Investigation

According to SIRT, five packages were removed from the man’s body at the hospital – while a sixth package was unable to be removed before the man was declared dead.

Tests confirmed that several of the packages contained methamphetamine and morphine.

Based on the evidence gathered, investigators said it is highly likely that the affected person turned themselves in to attempt to smuggle controlled substances into a correctional facility.

Investigators were able to determine that the affected person travelled to RPS headquarters in a taxi with another person.

When they arrived at their destination, the second person instructed the taxi driver to wait, as he wanted to make sure the affected person didn’t “back out.”

On the return trip to a residence in the city, the second man allegedly spoke on the phone to another individual, confirming that the affected person was dropped off and that he had watched him go inside.

“The man further stated that he had ‘more respect for’ the affected person, and that the affected person had ‘stepped up,’” the report read.

Video evidence showed that cell checks were carried out by police officers and paramedics at 15-minute intervals.

From the time of his arrest to the time of the incident – investigators noted the affected person did exhibit restless behaviour and complained of fever, tremors, and body aches at one point. Believing the complaints were symptoms of narcotic withdrawals, the detention area paramedic gave the affected person non-prescription pain medication.

The man continued to be alert and responsive until 3:45 a.m., when he was seen making erratic movements while lying down in his cell. A paramedic along with several police officers responded to the scene – noting that the man was breathing but he had foam around his mouth.

“Regardless of the affected person’s motivation for placing himself into custody, once anyone is detained in police custody, a legal duty exists on the part of police to appropriately care for a detainee and to reasonably address any medical needs that may arise,” the report read.

Regardless, investigators noted that the affected person not admitting they were carrying dangerous substances inside their body did pose practical challenges for administering proper care.

Investigators with SIRT either interviewed or received the notes from a total of 13 RPS members, along with 11 civilian witnesses over the course of the investigation – which wrapped up on Feb. 19, 2025.

Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the associates of the affected person related to the circumstances that led the man to turn himself in.

“Following a review of the totality of the evidence in this case, there are no grounds to believe any police officer committed any Criminal Code offence during the course of this incident and no charges will be laid,” the report concluded.

SIRT, which acts as the province’s police watchdog, is activated when some dies or is seriously injured while in police custody or due to police actions.