Prince Albert man’s death after violent 2023 traffic stop the centre of upcoming inquest

Boden Umpherville. (Courtesy: Chase Sinclair)

A coroner’s inquest is being held in Prince Albert next month to determine how 40-year-old Boden Umpherville died after a violent police traffic stop in 2023.

Umpherville was a passenger in a 2010 Dodge Avenger stopped by Prince Albert police in the early morning hours of April 1, 2023.

Pollice say when it was stopped a little before 2:30 a.m., the car was being driven by Umpherville with two passengers inside, one of whom was the registered owner.

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According to police, the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day. However, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said at the time that the owner claimed she never reported the car stolen.

An altercation occurred as officers attempted to arrest him. During the struggle, Umpherville was repeatedly shocked with a Taser and struck with police batons, suffering significant blunt force trauma.

At one point, he got into the driver’s seat and the vehicle moved forward, striking a police cruiser. The moment was captured on cellphone video that was later shared online.

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Umpherville was unconscious when officers pulled him from the vehicle and did not regain consciousness. He was taken to Prince Albert Victoria Hospital, where he died on April 26, 2023, after his family chose to remove him from life support. He was a father of five.

Saskatchewan’s civilian police watchdog later cleared officers of any wrongdoing in his death.

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Under The Coroners Act, a public inquest may be called to examine the circumstances surrounding a death. The process is intended to determine who died, as well as when, where and how the death occurred.

Beginning July 20, a provincial coroner and a jury of civilians will examine the circumstances leading up to Umpherville’s death.

The jury will determine the cause of Umpherville’s death and may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.

Coroner Frederick Kovach will preside over the inquest which runs until July 24 at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert.

With files from Rory MacLean and Josh Lynn