Inquest date announced to look into EMDC inmate’s death

FILE - A fire on St. Andrew Street on Dec. 19, 2018 saw one man charged with arson. He later died in police custody. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)

The provincial government has announced a date for an inquest looking into the circumstances surrounding a man’s death while he was transferred from the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC).

29-year-old Drew Pearson was charged with arson back in December 2018, connected to a house fire on Saint Andrew Street.

Officials say the inquest will take place May 25 and is expected to last eight days and hear from 10 witnesses.

Provincial law mandates an inquest when someone dies while in police custody.