Saskatoon Police to lead investigation into police response after man found dead along grid road Dec. 27
The RCMP’s response to an incident where a 59-year-old walked away from a care/support home and was found dead the next morning “may not have been sufficient,” according to a press release sent out by the police force Thursday.
An internal review and an independent investigation into the incident will be conducted.
The review stems from a case from Dec. 26 and 27, 2017. At about 3:05 p.m. on Dec. 26, Prince Albert RCMP received a call that a 59-year-old Indigenous man had walked away, and was considered missing from, a home located about 10 km outside of Prince Albert.
The following day, at about 8:30 a.m., the man was found dead along a grid road in the area. The provincial coroner’s office is investigating, but foul play is not suspected.
Temperatures fell to -35 Celsius without windchill during the time the man was missing.
An initial RCMP review determined the police response may not have been sufficient.
In addition to their own internal review, the Saskatchewan RCMP has requested an independent, external investigation into the members’ actions.
The Saskatoon Police will conduct the investigation, and the RCMP has requested that the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent observer.
The RCMP declined to provide any further information, as it is subject to an internal investigation.
The Chief Coroner’s office confirmed the identity of the deceased as Frederick Stephen McKay.
The Coroner’s office refused to provide any further details, such as cause of death or whether foul play is suspected, as the investigation is still ongoing. Information cannot be provided until the investigation is completed.
It can take about six months to complete a coroner’s investigation.
The RCMP did say it would advise the public of the outcome of the internal review and of the external investigation at the appropriate time.
