B.C.’s Police watchdog investigating death of Tl’az’ten First Nation man in RCMP custody

The sign outside the RCMP detachment in Prince George, B.C. Photo: APTN file

APTN News: The police watchdog in British Columbia is looking into the in-custody death of a First Nations man in Prince George in northern B.C.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is investigating the death of Eugene Joseph, 47, of Tl’azt’en First Nation just a few days after he was arrested by members of the RCMP.

According to his common-law wife, Dawn Agno, Joseph was a day school survivor and an intergenerational survivor of residential school. She said Joseph’s father had recently passed.

According to a news release from the IIO, the RCMP said that on Nov. 6, 2024, officers detained a man for being intoxicated and transported him to the police detachment.

“The man was found unresponsive in a cell during a routine check later that evening. First aid was administered, and the man was then transported to the hospital where he was in critical condition,” according to the IIO.

The IIO said it was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and commenced an investigation.

On Nov. 11, 2024, IIO investigators said they learned the man died in the hospital.

The IIO said their investigation will try to determine what role police action or inaction may have played in Joseph’s death.

The IIO is the Independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

More to come.