Independent, external investigation will occur after woman dies following incident in Kennedy

BROADVIEW - An independent, external investigation will occur after a woman died while in custody in southeast Saskatchewan.

In a news release, the Saskatchewan RCMP says officers from the Broadview detachment received a report of a distraught individual in Kennedy on Nov. 8 at approximately 9 p.m.

The individual, a 36-year-old female, was taken into police care under the Mental Health Act. Shortly after, the RCMP said the female went into medical distress.

Emergency medical services was already at the scene and transported the female to hospital. She was declared deceased at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 9. The name of the deceased is not being released at this time.

In accordance with the RCMP Act, the Saskatchewan RCMP has requested that the Moose Jaw Police Service conduct an independent external investigation into the circumstances surrounding the in-custody death of the female. The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is involved in the investigation.

In addition, the RCMP has requested that the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent observer.

As this matter is the subject of an external investigation, the RCMP says no further information can be made available at this time.