Arthur Ross Lafrance, of the Ermineskin reserve, died of an overdose of alcohol and a prescription painkiller after being arrested for causing a disturbance on Oct. 15, 2007.
Lafrance, a recognized alcoholic who had a long history with local RCMP, was arrested at his home after an altercation with others in his home and was visibly intoxicated at the time.
“It is important to note that Lafrance was both ambulatory and conversant with police at the time of his arrest,” read the report by Provincial Court Judge Bart Rosborough. “At the time of the arrest, police received no information about Lafrance’s ingestion of medication. Now did they make any inquiries in that regard from time of that apprehension until his death.”
Police assumed Lafrance had only ingested alcohol, Rosborough concluded.
At 5:45 p.m., Lafrance was processed and put into cells, where he fell asleep shortly after. Checks by officers confirmed he was breathing regularly until shortly before his death at 8:45 p.m.
At the time of his death, Lafrance was known to swallow a daily dose of a painkiller called doxepin because of a 2006 traffic accident that resulted in the amputation of his right arm. In the Medical Examiner’s opinion, the drug contributed to Lafrance’s death, though it is easy to confused doxepin overdoes with simple drunkenness.
Rosborough put forth recommendations for the RCMP, including questioning family or friends of intoxicated individuals to determine which drinks, drugs or other substances they may have ingested. In Lafrance’s case, those present at his arrest knew of the painkillers he was on, but were never asked.
Rosborough also made recommendations to improve the RCMP’s prisoner intake system, particularly the from filled out for everyone who enters the holding cells. Specifically, the judge said, the form is not specific enough in questions about possible impairment by alcohol or drugs, or in conjunction. Though Lafrance’s drunkenness was noted, questions about his impairment then ended.
Mounties should also make inquiries about effects of specific drugs, once they learn a prisoner has taken them, the report states.
Sgt. Tim, Taniguchi, an RCMP spokesman, said the recommendations will be referred to the national policy centre for review.
The recommendations are not binding.
Fatality inquires cannot lay blame in a death, but only make recommendations to avoid similar deaths in the future. An inquiry is automatic when someone dies while in police custody, regardless of circumstance.
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