Multiple units became involved as RCMP were busy dealing with a situation in Wilkie last week, and more information has now been made available after a Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team investigation was opened on December 6.
Following what is being described as "a death following contact with police in Wilkie", SIRT's Civilian Executive Director accepted the notification as within SIRT's mandate and directed an investigation by SIRT according to the government release.
"On December 5, 2023, at approximately 7:45 p.m., RCMP responded to a request to conduct a wellness check at a residence in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. While police were initially unable to locate the subject of the call, at approximately 9:30 pm RCMP received a 911 call from another residence in Wilkie, where the subject of the initial call, a 35-year-old female, was located. The individual was uncooperative with police, but following the use of de-escalation techniques, was taken into custody under The Mental Health Services Act without incident."
Initial ivestigations revealed that once the individual was taken to the Wilkie RCMP detachment, members contacted EMS for the assessment minor injuries believed to have occurred prior to contact with police. The woman was moved directly to an ambulance where she later experienced medical distress, being pronounced deceased later on after transport to the Unity and District Heath Centre.
The SIRT investigation then began as a team made up of the Civilian Executive Director and three SIRT investigators visited the deceased individual's residence. They recovered several knives, and a quantity of a controlled substance from the dwelling and seized the goods as part of the investigation. A post-mortem examination, toxicology and microscopy are also in the midst as a Saskatchewan Coroners Service investigation also began.
"SIRT's investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the woman's detention and the cause of her injury. The RCMP will maintain responsibility for the investigation into the original inciting incident. No further information will be released at this time." quoted the release as a final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.
Saskatchewan residents can follow along with Serious Incident Response Team activity on social media. SIRT's mandate is to "independently investigate incidents where an individual has died or suffered serious injury arising from the actions of on and off-duty police officers, or while in the custody of police, as well as allegations of sexual assault or interpersonal violence involving police."
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