Alberta's police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), has cleared Lethbridge police of any wrongdoing in the 2023 death of a woman who died of a drug overdose while in police custody. The investigation concluded that officers acted appropriately and within policy during the incident.
Incident details
The woman, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody by Lethbridge police on an unspecified date in 2023. While in custody, she suffered a drug overdose and was pronounced dead at the scene. ASIRT was called in to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, as is standard for any in-custody death in Alberta.
According to the ASIRT report, officers had taken the woman into custody after responding to a call. She was placed in a holding cell, where she was later found unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive her, she could not be saved.
ASIRT findings
ASIRT's investigation included a review of police policies, witness statements, and forensic evidence. The report found that officers followed proper procedures and that there was no evidence of negligence or misconduct. “The officers involved acted in accordance with their training and the policies of the Lethbridge Police Service,” the report stated. “There is no indication that any actions by the officers contributed to the woman's death.”
The watchdog also noted that the woman had a history of drug use and that the overdose was likely due to the potency of the substances she had consumed prior to her arrest.
Reactions
The Lethbridge Police Service expressed relief at the outcome, stating that the incident was a tragedy for all involved. “Our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased,” said a police spokesperson. “We are grateful that ASIRT has confirmed our officers acted properly in a difficult situation.”
The woman's family has not publicly commented on the report. However, advocates for police accountability have called for more transparency in custody death investigations, even when officers are cleared of wrongdoing.
Broader context
This case is one of several in-custody deaths in Alberta in recent years that have been investigated by ASIRT. The watchdog has faced criticism from some quarters for being too lenient on police, though it maintains that its investigations are independent and thorough.
According to data from the Alberta government, there were 12 in-custody deaths in the province in 2023, a number that has remained relatively stable over the past five years. Advocates have called for more preventative measures, including better access to addiction treatment and mental health support for those in police custody.
