SASKATOON – A patient at a Saskatoon hospital died Friday morning following a physical struggle with security officers who were responding to a report of a firearm in his room. The weapon was later determined to be imitation.
The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) Major Crime Section and the Office of The Chief Coroner have launched a dual investigation into the incident, which occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Jan. 9, at the Royal University Hospital.
According to a police media release on Monday, the chain of events began when hospital security was alerted to a possible gun in a patient’s room. Security personnel entered the room, and upon encountering the patient, attempted to restrain him.
A physical altercation broke out. During the struggle, the man became unresponsive, say police. He was pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts.
Following the incident, police say they found a fake firearm, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
