Solomon Uyarasuk inquest: Cell block left unlocked for hours after death

The third RCMP officer stationed inIgloolikthe morning SolomonUyarasukdied in the cell blocksays he left the officers who had arrested Uyarasuk alone at the detachment while he notified the man'sfamily he was dead.

Sgt. Gary Edgar was testifying by videoconferenceat an inquest looking into how 26-year-old Uyarasuk died atthedetachment in September 2012.Testimony at the inquest earlier this week has indicated that Uyarasuk used a belt attached to a meal slot in the door of his cell to asphyxiate himself.

Edgar was a relief officer and had been inIgloolikfor almost three weeks when the incident occurred.

He told the inquest he was called to the detachment around 6:30 that morning and was told there was a possible fatality.He said that when he arrived at the detachment,Const. Martin Noel looked distressed.

Edgar said Shane Collier, the community's nurse on call, was there and told him aboutUyarasuk'sdeath. He went into the cell block area and saw part of a nylon belt and a serrated knife on the floor. Then in Cell 1 he saw Uyarasuklying naked on his back with blood on his face and torsoand blood smeared on the floor.

He told the nurse to leave the cell block area. He said Sgt. Greg Murphy had just returned with a stretcher and handed over the keys to the truck he and Noel haddrivenUyarasukin, which was covered in Uyarasuk'sblood.

Edgar then received a call from his superior officersin Iqaluit telling him that the division's major crimes unit wason itsway toIgloolik.

He saidhe told Murphy and Noel to write up their notes about the morning and the officers sat in separate, but close,areas.

Edgar saidhe was told by RCMP in Iqaluit to do the next of kin notification as soon as possible, so he left Murphy and Noel unsupervised for 45 minutes with the cell block area unlocked while he went to tellUyarasuk'sfamily that he had died.

Edgar said he had no qualms about leaving Murphy and Noel alone at the detachment. He said they struck him as good men. Hetold the inquest you have to have faith in the people you work with.

The inquest heard that the tape placed on the cell block door to seal it was marked 12:50 p.m., six and a half hours afterUyarasukdied.

Thelawyer for Uyarasuk's family pointed out that in his statement to the Ottawa Police, Edgar had said he didn't even think about locking the cell block door. Edgar repliedthat may well be.

Noel and Murphy leftIgloolikthatday.Edgar saidhe was asked if he wanted to leave the community, too. He told the inquest he felt it was important for him to stay to answer any questions from the family.

Edgar also said he had raised concerns about the meal slot doorstoNoel, the officer in charge, the day Noel arrived inIgloolik. He said that on Sept. 13, 2012, 10days beforeUyarasukdied, an intoxicated female prisoner opened the meal slot door by repeatedly kicking at it. Edgar said he used a piece of tape to keep it closed that night.

The inquest continues Friday.