The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is conducting an investigation into the death of an adult male who was in police custody in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Preliminary information suggests:

• On the morning of October 11, 2025 an adult male was processed by Charlottetown Police Services (CPS) when he started to behave erratically.
• The male appeared to be having a mental health crisis and was placed in another room to calm down.
• A struggle ensued and two officers were required to subdue and handcuff the male. During the altercation a third officer stunned the male with a conductive energy weapon (CEW/Taser).
• Officers escorted the male to hospital, and he went into medical distress during the drive. The male was later pronounced deceased.

Under The Nova Scotia Police Act and on the recommendation of the SiRT Director, the Minister of Justice is permitted to enter into agreements with other provincial oversight agencies, and governments to conduct investigations on an ad hoc basis. Due to the seriousness of the incident PEI’s Department of Justice and Public Safety contacted SiRT to oversee the investigation. SiRT started its investigation on October 15, 2025.

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. To learn more about SiRT visit: https://sirtnsnb.ca/ .

Media Contact

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