Identity of man who died in Kelowna police custody still not known

KELOWNA – The RCMP have yet to release the name or further details surrounding the death of a man in their custody earlier this month.

Police say the 40-year-old was taken into custody after he crashed his vehicle into a tree on McCulloch Road shortly after 5 p.m. March 31.

RCMP said in a media release that the man was taken first to the detachment but moved to the hospital when he complained of pain.

Hospital staff cleared the man for release and police booked him into cells at the detachment at 11:25 p.m., March 31, police say.

He was found unresponsive in his cell around 2:10 p.m. the next day, April 1, and pronounced dead around 2:40 p.m.

RCMP have not said what injuries or illnesses the man suffered from or why he was held in custody.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. continues to investigate.

"The initial focus of the investigation is to determine if there is a connection between the male’s death and the actions of police," spokesperson Aidan Buckley says in an email. "If there is no connection then the investigations office will release jurisdiction, if there is a connection the office will continue investigating."


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Adam Proskiw

Adam has lived in B.C. most of his life. He was born in the Caribou, grew up in the Okanagan, went to university on Vancouver Island and worked as a news photographer in Vancouver. His favourite stories incorporate meaningful photography and feature interesting, passionate locals. He studied writing at UVic and photojournalism in California. He loves talking tractors, dogs and cameras and is always looking for a good story.


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