By Justin Goulet

Man injured while in LPS custody, ASIRT investigating

Jun 4, 2019 | 9:10 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – An investigation is underway on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a 23-year-old man by Lethbridge Police Service.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is looking into the incident, which resulted in the man suffering a minor nose injury and going into medical distress on May 29, 2019.

That same morning, officers arrested the 23-year-old man and placed him in custody in the back seat of a marked police cruiser. When officers checked on the man, he appeared to be bleeding from the nose and in medical distress, including being in and out of consciousness, according to a release from ASIRT.

ASIRT said that LPS officers provided medical assistance until EMS arrived on scene and took the man to hospital. Because the man’s minor injury and medical distress happened while he was police custody, LPS immediately contacted the Director of Law Enforcement.

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ASIRT can be directed to investigate where circumstances might favour an independent investigation, like when a person in custody is injured or in medical distress.

The release noted that although the full case and extent of the man’s injury and medical distress is under investigation, independent evidence has confirmed that the man intentionally struck his own head in the police vehicle, causing the nose injury.

The man’s condition stabilized, and he was later released from hospital, ASIRT said.

While the investigation is underway, no further information will be provided.