This article was originally published by APTN News.
Leanne Sanders
APTN News
The police watchdog in British Columbia is looking into the in-custody death of a First Nations man in Prince George in northern British Columbia.
The Independent Investigations Office is investigating the death of Eugene Joseph, 47, of Tl’azt’en First Nation just a few days after he was arrested by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
According to his common-law wife, Dawn Agno, Joseph was a day school survivor and an intergenerational survivor of residential school. She said Joseph’s father had recently passed away.
According to a news release from the investigations office, the RCMP said that on Nov. 6 officers detained a man for being intoxicated and transported him to the police detachment.
“The man was found unresponsive in a cell during a routine check later that evening. First aid was administered, and the man was then transported to the hospital where he was in critical condition,” according to the investigations office.
The office said it was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and commenced an investigation.
On Nov. 11, investigators said they learned the man died in the hospital.
Officials said the investigation will try to determine what role police action or inaction may have played in Joseph’s death.
The Independent Investigations Office is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing.