David Weir – Surrey North Delta Leader – July 02, 2008

Homicide detectives investigating after a Langley man was kicked off a transit bus, went into medical distress while in the custody of Surrey RCMP, and then died in hospital four days later.

Ryan Alexander Wagemans, 24, passed away Tuesday at 1:25 p.m. at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

An autopsy is being performed today (Wednesday), but it could be up to 90 days before the B.C. Coroners Service releases a cause of death because it will take that long for toxicology test results to come back.

In the meantime, the region’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been called in to take over the investigation because Wagemans’ death is technically an in-custody death.

According to police, a Coast Mountain Bus driver had taken on a load of passengers at the Newton exchange and was crossing King George Highway at about 6 p.m. Friday when he noticed a passenger acting erratically.

TransLink security met the bus on 72 Avenue west of 134 Street and asked Wagemans to leave the bus. Wageman complied, but once outside, became combative with the two security officers, who then radioed for RCMP support. Mounties arrived moments later and helped restrain Wagemans.

It was then that police noticed the man was in medical distress and called for paramedics and firefighters to attend. Wagemans was transported to Surrey Memorial Hospital where he died Tuesday afternoon.

IHIT is now trying to track down Wagemans’ movements prior to the tragic events unfolding.

“We have learned (Wagemans) may have been on an earlier bus – the 321 from Whalley,” said Cpl. Dale Carr, IHIT spokesperson. “We’re hoping to speak to anyone who may have seen someone acting erratically on that bus.

“We’re reviewing statements taken already and trying to establish additional contacts in an attempt to see what happened to (Wagemans) and why he ended up behaving the way that he did.”

Wagemans was known to police, but Carr did not elaborate further.

Anyone with information that might aid the investigation is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-543-9217, or to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Do you Like or Dislike the above comment: 0  0

SURREY, British Columbia, July 2 (UPI) — The death of a “combative” man three days after being arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Surrey, British Columbia, was being probed Wednesday.

An unidentified man in his 20s was arrested Friday after a Surrey bus driver radioed transit police for help, saying a passenger was acting erratically, The Province newspaper in Vancouver reported Wednesday.

RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow said the man “was acting aggressively toward transit police” and “at that point he became very combative enough to the point where police were involved.”

When RCMP officers arrested the man, he went into “medical distress,” Morrow told the newspaper.

The man was in critical condition until Tuesday, when he died, the report said.

Police wouldn’t disclose whether alcohol or drug use was suspected in the man’s death, but said officers had not used an electronic stun gun.

The RCMP has been criticized by a federal watchdog agency in recent weeks for its use of the Taser-brand guns following several deaths of suspects.

Do you Like or Dislike the above comment: 0  0