Man arrested in good health found dead 1 week later in London's Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre

An inmate died earlier this week at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) in London, Ont., a provincial jail that has seen years of problems.   

The London Police Service (LPS) confirmed it responded to EMDC on Wednesday to a report of an unresponsive man.

Jamie Briggs, 44, was pronounced dead at the facility, and the LPS Major Crime Section assisted with a coroner's investigation. 

The death was determined to be from natural causes. It marks the 21st inmate death at the facility since 2009.

Briggs had been feeling unwell in the days leading up to his death, said Toronto-based lawyer Alison Craig. He had been arrested on Nov. 9 for what she called relatively minor charges, and appeared to be in good health during a court appearance Thursday morning. 

By Nov. 14, Craig learned her client was unable to attend bail court because he was unable to walk. 

"I believe they said on the record that it might have been due to a head injury or high blood pressure, something to that effect," said Craig, "and they said that he would get medical attention ASAP." 

On Tuesday, she was informed Briggs was too unwell to make a scheduled phone call, possibly due to withdrawal symptoms. The following day, he was dead. 

Family of inmate 'obviously upset'

Briggs's mother had been trying for days to get information from the jail about her son after his arrest, said Craig. 

"They're obviously upset," she said of the family, "and are concerned that had he received medical attention, he might not have passed away." 

Briggs's common-law spouse, Melanie Dickson, described him as a "fun-loving, amazing man." 

"Everybody knew when he walked into the room — he was wonderful, having a huge heart." 

Craig said the death is part of a wider systemic issue needing to be addressed.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has confirmed paramedics were called to EMDC earlier this week after staff found an unresponsive inmate in his cell. 

EMDC has been the subject of criticism with family members of deceased inmates erecting crosses outside the jail. There have been rallies outside the fences, including the most recent rally, where 500 bikers and supporters met to protest the death of another inmate. 

The province has said it is improving safety measures inside the jail, including looking at overcapacity issues and how drugs find their way inside.