North Bay jury delivers inquest recommendations

North Bay court house

Tuesday in North Bay marked the final day of the inquest into the death of a 49-year-old man who died while in police custody in 2016.

The court heard from a forensic toxicologist, who said John Roberts had cocaine and fentanyl in his system at the time of his death.

Roberts was arrested for impaired driving in the winter of 2016 near Rutherglen.

He later died in hospital while in police custody.

It was concluded that Roberts died of fentanyl and cocaine overdose combined with previous heart disease.

The jury recommended looking into placing defibrillators in police vehicles to prevent similar deaths.