N.W.T. coroner calls inquest into death of woman in RCMP custody
Sylvia Panaktalok died on July 31, 2021, after Tuktoyaktuk RCMP arrested her for public intoxication
The Office of the Chief Coroner of the N.W.T. will hold an inquest into the death of Sylvia Panaktalok.
Panaktalok died on July 31, 2021, a few hours after being taken into RCMP custody in Tuktoyaktuk for public intoxication.
Police in Calgary were called in to investigate the 54-year-old's death, which is standard procedure for an external agency to investigate deaths that happen in police custody.
In September 2023, Calgary police deemed her death "non-criminal".
"This means no charges will be laid, and the name of the woman and the cause of death will not be publicly released by the Calgary Police Service."
In a news release Monday, the coroner's office said the inquest is scheduled to take place in Inuvik at the Mackenzie Hotel, beginning on Oct. 1.
The inquest is being called under the Coroners Act, which states that the chief coroner can direct an inquest if they become aware of the death of a person who had been detained or in custody involuntarily.