Manitoba

Woman dies in Manitoba RCMP cell, police watchdog investigating

A woman who was arrested and placed in the Chemawawin RCMP cells was found dead the next morning, says the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, which is investigating.

Woman transported to Chemawawin RCMP, found unresponsive next morning

A logo on the door of an RCMP vehicle is pictured on a cloudy day.
The IIU is investigating the death of a woman in Chemawawin RCMP custody. (CBC/Radio-Canada)

A woman who was arrested and placed in the Chemawawin RCMP cells died there, says the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, which is investigating.

RCMP said an intoxicated woman was taken into custody around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday in Chemawawin Cree Nation, about 400 kilometres north of Winnipeg, a news release from the IIU said Friday.

She was taken to a Chemawawin RCMP cell.

Around 10 a.m. Thursday, the woman was found unresponsive in the cell and CPR was started. Nurses from the community's nursing station were called and pronounced her dead. 

RCMP reported the death the same day to the Independent Investigation Unit, which investigates all serious incidents involving police officers in Manitoba.

The IIU will not give further information while it investigates, the release said.

Witnesses or other individuals who have information or video footage that may assist the investigation are asked to contact the IIU at 1-844-667-6060.