Blood Tribe Police station. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Investigation ordered into circumstances around arrest of Blood Tribe woman

Nov 20, 2019 | 4:10 PM

STANDOFF, AB – The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been called in to investigate the arrest of a southern Albertan woman.

The investigation was ordered because her health reportedly deteriorated while in custody, which resulted in her being admitted to the hospital.

Blood Tribe Police Service was called to a home on the First Nation at approximately 10:45 am on Saturday, November 16th on a complaint of a disturbance.

Prior to her arrest, the 35-year-old woman complained of a sore head, back, and wrist. EMS was called to assess her on scene and again in police custody.

12 hours later, at 10:45 pm, the woman was found in medical distress, although officials have not disclosed what kind of medical distress this was. She was taken to hospital to receive care where she currently remains.

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“Because the woman’s condition deteriorated while in custody, Blood Tribe police provided notification under Section 46.1 of the Police Act and the direction was made that ASIRT would investigate,” reads a media release from ASIRT. “In this case, it is not yet known whether the woman’s deteriorating condition was the result of a medical event or injury. ASIRT’s investigation will focus on whether police conduct caused or contributed to the woman’s deteriorating condition.”

ASIRT has started their investigation and will not be releasing any further information until the matter is concluded.