Alberta's police watchdog has cleared Lethbridge Police Service officers of any criminal wrongdoing in the death of a man who was removed from a home as an unwanted guest.
Incident details
On July 8, 2026, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) announced that the officers' actions were lawful and reasonable. The man, identified as 35-year-old John Doe, died on June 15 after being arrested for trespassing at a residence in Lethbridge.
According to ASIRT, officers responded to a call about an unwanted guest at a home. When they arrived, they found Doe inside the residence. He became combative during the arrest, and officers used physical force to subdue him. Doe lost consciousness and was pronounced dead at the scene.
ASIRT investigation findings
ASIRT's investigation concluded that the officers used proportionate force given the circumstances. The report stated that Doe had a history of mental health issues and was under the influence of drugs at the time. The cause of death was determined to be a combination of drug toxicity and physical exertion during the struggle.
ASIRT director Michael Ewenson said, "The officers acted in accordance with their training and the law. There is no evidence to suggest any criminal conduct."
Community reaction
The man's family expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that more could have been done to de-escalate the situation. A spokesperson for the family said, "We are devastated by the loss and believe that the system failed him."
Lethbridge police chief Shahin Mehdizadeh offered condolences to the family and emphasized the department's commitment to reviewing its procedures. "We will continue to work with mental health partners to improve our response to such calls," he said.
