Investigation into in-custody death - Fort St. John, BC
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 56° 15.152 W 120° 50.868
10V E 633339 N 6236269
RCMP officers respond to approximately 14,000 calls each year, within both the City limits and the Fort St John Detachment response area, roughly 46,700 square kilometres. Sometimes, however, response must be made to the RCMP detachment itself.
Waymark Code: WM14QGR
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/10/2021
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Alfouine
Views: 0

The RCMP are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the national police force of Canada, established in May of 1873. Originally named the North-West Mounted Police, in 1904 the title of "Royal" was conferred upon the North-West Mounted Police by King Edward VII. A second police force, the Dominion Police had been formed by that time and, in 1919, the Force was merged with the Dominion Police and given the name Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Fort St. John RCMP Detachment, with an Inspector as the Officer in Charge, houses a combined total of 65 police officers from both municipally and provincially funded Units. The RCMP members are supported by 25 civilian staff, both municipal and federal employees, one Reserve Constable, one Auxiliary Constable and two staff in our Victim Services Unit.

In Canada, at least, deaths of inmates in police custody are taken quite seriously, inevitable resulting in an inquest and an investigation, as the following news item indicates.

Investigation into in-custody death
The B.C. Coroner's Service is launching an investigation into the death of a man that occurred while he was in the custody of Fort St.

Derek Bedry | Feb 25, 2013
Bretton Robert Kent Lohouse, 46, died while in the Fort St. John RCMP lockup on Sept. 9, 2011. An inquest is mandatory when a person dies in police custody.

At the time of the death, the RCMP stated a series of routine checks were conducted on the male and at one point during the evening he was observed to be unresponsive. The RCMP called Paramedics who pronounced the male dead. Lohouse was arrested just after 5 p.m. on Friday September 9, 2011.

"Presiding coroner Donita Kuzma and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding this death," said the B.C. Coroner's Service.

"While the jury may not, by law, make any findings of legal responsibility, it will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future."

The inquest will take place Sept 16 to 20, 2013 at 9 a.m. in the Fort St. John courthouse.

Spokespersons able to comment on the investigation for Fort St. John RCMP were not available for comment. The B.C. Coroner's Service did not return calls.
From the Alaska Highway News
Type of publication: Newspaper

When was the article reported?: 02/25/2013

Publication: Alaska Highway News

Article Url: [Web Link]

Is Registration Required?: no

How widespread was the article reported?: regional

News Category: Crime

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