Sask. police watchdog investigates after man found unresponsive in Fort Qu'Appelle cell

Saskatchewan's police watchdog is investigating after a man was found unresponsive whilein the custody of the Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP.

Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) said it was notified about the incident on Oct. 24, and the man remainedin hospital in critical condition as of Tuesday.

SIRT said in a news release that RCMP officers responded on Oct. 23 at about3:30 p.m. to "a report of a male sitting on the step of a residential address with possible facial injuries" in Fort Qu'Appelle,about 70 kilometres northeast of Regina.

Police removed the 55-year-old man at the request of residents, the news release said, and took him to the RCMP detachment "to be lodged until sober."

The next morning at about 7 a.m., a detachment guard alerted RCMPmembers the man hadn't moved for some time.

"The man was checked and determined to be breathing but non-responsive," the news release said.

The man was taken to hospital in FortQu'Appelle and then transferred to Regina.

The SIRT investigation will "examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man's detention and his time in custody," the news release said.

A final report will be issued publicly within 90 days of the end of the investigation.