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."

To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.