Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been called to investigate after a man died while in Calgary Police Service custody following a break-and-enter call. The incident occurred Saturday night when officers responded to a residence in the 0 to 100 block of Abbercove Road S.E. around 9:30 p.m. for reports of a break and enter involving a weapon.
Suspect Located After Fleeing Scene
According to Calgary Police Service (CPS), the suspect fled the neighborhood before officers arrived. Police later located the individual, and during the attempted arrest, the man became combative and refused to comply with commands. At least one officer deployed a Conductive Energy Weapon (CEW), commonly known as a Taser. Shortly after the deployment, the suspect showed signs of medical distress, CPS said in a news release.
Transport to Hospital and Death
The man was rushed to hospital, where he later died. Neither officers nor members of the public sustained injuries during the confrontation. CPS stated there was no active threat to the community at the time of the incident, and no road closures were implemented, though officers advised people to avoid the area.
ASIRT Investigation Underway
Because the death occurred while the individual was in police custody, ASIRT has been mandated to investigate the circumstances. The agency will examine the use of force and the events leading up to the man's death. ASIRT is Alberta's civilian oversight body that investigates serious incidents involving police, including in-custody deaths.
Further details have not been released as the investigation proceeds. The Calgary Herald will provide updates as more information becomes available.
