Questions linger at memorial for Trevor Proudman
CBC News | Posted: November 24, 2014 1:33 AM | Last Updated: November 24, 2014
Edmonton Police are conducting an internal review into Proudman's sudden death
As dozens gathered to remember Trevor Proudman on Sunday, questions about his sudden death still linger for his family.
Proudman, 32, was handcuffed and left unsupervised in a police van on Nov. 12, after staff at a north-Edmonton medical clinic reported he had been acting aggressively. At some point while in police custody, Proudman stopped breathing. He was rushed to hospital, where he later died after being taken off life-support.
- Trevor Proudman, man with behaviour disorder, dies after being left in police van
- Handcuffing obese suspects 'a recipe for disaster,' expert says
Friends and family held a touching memorial to honour Proudman, whose life they say ended too soon. Maureen Warren said she will not be able to move on until questions about her son’s death are answered.
“Did he suffer? Was it a heart attack that took him right away? That’s what keeps running through my head,” Warren said. “Did they roughhouse him into the van? I don’t know. Push him? Lying down? How was he in the van? I don’t know these answers.”
'He was so happy, loving'
Proudman had Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder linked to compulsive eating and behaviour problems. Richard Proudman said his brother could be argumentative and irritable as a result of his condition.
Friends spoke Sunday about a young man who had “a loving heart”, in spite of a condition that caused sudden, angry outbursts. Family laughed about how much he loved going to West Edmonton Mall to go down the water slides.
“Trevor was the best brother I could ever ask for,” Richard said. “He had a way of dealing with me that made me feel special, that I had such worth, that no other person has ever made me feel. He was my hero and I was his, to some degree.”
“He was so happy, loving, a little jokester,” Warren said. “He had nicknames for everybody. He would name you, and that would be it.”
Still, the circumstances of Trevor’s death were not far from his brother's mind on Sunday.
“It was a very unnecessary tragedy due to the circumstances surrounding his death,” Richard said. “All we can do now, and it’s not healthy and it’s not helping, is just speculate… It’s still very confusing for everybody.”
Edmonton police are conducting an internal review into the death and say results of a toxicology report could take six weeks.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response (ASIRT) team, which is called in to investigate incidents involving injury or death that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer, will also review the case.