Inuvik woman dies in RCMP custody, external review begins
Woman died Jan. 10 while in process of being released from custody, say RCMP
Inuvik RCMP are requesting an external review after a woman died while in police custody this weekend.
According to a press release issued Tuesday, RCMP received a complaint Jan. 9 about a woman, believed to be intoxicated, walking along Bonnetplume Road in Inuvik. RCMP arrested the woman without incident and took her to the town's hospital for a medical assessment, where she was considered fit for incarceration.
The release states that the woman was then taken to the Inuvik RCMP detachment, where she was put in a cell, scheduled to be released once she sobered up.
According to the release, the woman was co-operative with police throughout her arrest and time in custody.
On Jan. 10, the woman was being processed to be released by RCMP when she went into "medical distress." She was escorted by police to the Inuvik hospital, where she died.
The release states that Medicine Hat Police Service will conduct an external review of the incident.
The cause of death of the woman — who was not named by RCMP — has not yet been determined.