Man’s death after being restrained by Edmonton police under investigation: ASIRT

ASIRT is investigating the death of a man who went into medical distress while he was being arrested last Saturday.

Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a man on Saturday morning after Edmonton police were called to a seniors’ residence near the downtown core.

The man was reportedly injured, had entered the building and was asking for help, according to a Friday news release from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT). A resident had called Edmonton police, who got there first and then called EMS.

But a statement from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) earlier this week said officers were responding to reports of an assault.

EPS said officers found a man who seemed intoxicated and tried to arrest him.

ASIRT said officers tried to restrain the man and got the help of people in the building to “gain control of him.”

The man then went into medical distress. Police began CPR until paramedics arrived and took over. The man died in hospital.

ASIRT investigates incidents where serious injury or death may have been caused by police.