Charges Withdrawn Against Alberta Sheriffs in Custody Death Case
Crown prosecutors have officially dropped the case against three Alberta sheriffs who were charged in connection with the death of a man in custody at the Edmonton courthouse. The charges, which were related to failing to provide the necessaries of life, were withdrawn on April 10, 2026, following a comprehensive review of the evidence.
Details of the Case and Decision
Trevor Jason Freeman, 43, died on June 16, 2023, after experiencing a medical emergency in a detainee holding area. This occurred shortly after he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for manslaughter with a firearm. Initially, Freeman had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ryan Dustin Moffat but was convicted of the lesser charge.
The charges against the sheriffs—Adam Zasada, Brent Roy, and Karin Simmons—stemmed from an Edmonton police investigation that concluded in April 2025. However, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service announced that the charges were withdrawn after a review determined that the available admissible evidence did not meet the standard for prosecution.
Michelle Davio, a spokesperson for the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, explained in an email: "Multiple senior Crown prosecutors reviewed the available evidence and gave thorough and careful consideration to all possible paths forward. That review resulted in the determination that the available admissible evidence did not meet the standard for prosecution."
Impact on the Accused and Family Reaction
According to Alberta's public safety ministry, two of the former accused no longer work for the Government of Alberta, while a third remains on administrative leave. The identities of these individuals were not specified in the announcement.
Treyna Bernas, Freeman's wife, expressed her disappointment and frustration with the justice system. In a text to Postmedia, she stated: "It's been a year of disappointing court dates. It's been hard for my children, my mother-in-law and me. Healing is hard in a circumstance like this." Bernas hopes that her family's story will bring attention to deaths in custody in Alberta, as she was given few details about what happened.
Lawyers for Zasada, Roy, and Simmons declined to comment on the withdrawal of the charges.
Background on the Manslaughter Case
The incident that led to Freeman's manslaughter conviction occurred on March 11, 2021, during a shooting at a home in Sturgeon County. RCMP initiated an investigation after Moffat and another man arrived at the Redwater hospital with gunshot wounds. Moffat, a 37-year-old resident of Gibbons, died in the hospital, while the other man survived.
Freeman and another individual, Kalum Christian Auger, were arrested weeks later and charged with second-degree murder. Auger was also convicted of manslaughter and received a sentence of six and a half years in prison.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about custody deaths and the challenges families face in seeking justice within the legal system.
