A coroner’s inquest into the death of a man in police custody in Moncton is recommending the RCMP have paramedics on staff. The inquest, which was held at the Saint John courthouse this week, looked into the death of Dennis Johnson, 48, in Moncton on Nov. 23, 2022. According to the inquest, Johnson was arrested for public intoxication and put into a holding cell on the night of Nov. 19. He was found unconscious early the next morning. He went to the Moncton Hospital and later died. The five-member jury at the inquest heard evidence from witnesses and found Johnson died accidentally from substance toxicity after consuming alcohol and zopiclone, a kind of sleeping pill. Along with the paramedic recommendation, the jury made six other suggestions to the RCMP, including: The chief coroner will send the recommendations to the appropriate agencies for consideration. A coroner’s inquest does not make any findings of legal responsibility, nor does it assign blame. -With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Avery MacRae For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
