The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) found no reasonable grounds to believe a member of the RCMP committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of an adult male that occurred following an arrest in Shediac, New Brunswick.

On May 29, 2024, RCMP members responded to a call from Ambulance NB at an apartment in Shediac. Paramedics were trying to help an adult male who was bleeding and having difficulty breathing. Due to the male’s erratic behaviour creating an unsafe environment, they called RCMP for assistance. When officers arrived on the scene the male was uncooperative and assaultive. There was drug paraphernalia and broken glass on the floor which could be used as weapons. As they tried to restrain the male and move him to a safer location for medical care, a struggle ensued which resulted in the deployment of a taser.  The taser struck the male and allowed the officers to gain control and move him to another room so paramedics could safely administer care. Shortly after the paramedics started tending to the male, he stopped breathing, was revived, and transported to hospital, where he later died.

SiRT received a referral from the RCMP on May 29, 2024 and started their investigation immediately.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest to be investigated that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

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Khalehla Perrault
Manager of Communications & Special Projects
Email: Khalehla.Perrault@novascotia.ca