Corrections officers give evidence at inquest surrounding final moments of inmate’s life

The Inquest into the death of EMDC inmate Drew Pearson continues, guards appear and offer their account. CTV London’s Nick Paparella reports.

After being booked at London Police Headquarters and then making a court appearance at the London Courthouse on Dec. 27, 2018, Drew Pearson, 29, was transported to the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC).

All along he kept complaining about having a sore back.

As he made his way off the inmate transport truck, EMDC Corrections Officer Rick Kennett was the one in charge of his admission to the jail.

He told the inquest, “He (Pearson) told me he had sore ribs or broken ribs.”

Kennett said as Pearson was being searched, “He was clearly in pain, he couldn’t pick up his boots.”

The proceedings have heard that Pearson was homeless at the time and was facing arson charges in connection with a blaze at a St. Andrew Street boarding house earlier that month in December of 2018.

Earlier, the jury heard taped recordings from other correction officers who had interacted with Pearson after his admission to EMDC.

Andy Prentice told investigators when he saw Pearson, he was moaning and crying, “He turned grey right there in front of us ... he became unresponsive.”

Before wrapping up, Prentice said, “It upset me, I don’t think there was anything we could have done.”

After being rushed to hospital, Pearson was pronounced dead. He died from staphylococcal sepsis.

The inquest looking into Pearson’s death of now into its second week.