Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

IIO INVESTIGATION

IIO finds no wrong-doing by Kamloops RCMP, civilian guards during in-custody death

Jul 25, 2019 | 3:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — B.C.’s police watchdog has issued a report finding there was no wrong-doing by the Kamloops RCMP in relation to a March 2019 death inside Kamloops RCMP cells.

The Independent Investigations Office report says the affected person, which family has identified as 49-year-old Randy Lampreau, was arrested for public intoxication on March 12 of this year.

The report says the arrest was recorded on surveillance, and the transportation of Lampreau to cells was recorded in the police cruiser.

The IIO says both interactions appeared uneventful.

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On video surveillance at the detachment, Lampreau is seen swaying and stumbling, struggling to remove his clothing, according to the report.

“Two police officers are seen dealing with him in what appears to be a careful and respectful manner, and steadying him on several occasions to prevent him from falling,” the report states. “He is then walked by the officers to a cell and is left sitting on the floor in a corner.”

A civilian cell guard said he originally checked on Lampreau about once an hour, but once he went to sleep the guard checked either in person or via surveillance roughly every 15 minutes.

Lampreau was booked before midnight, and appeared fine up until shortly before 6:00 a.m. according to the report.

At that time the guard said he noticed Lampreau hadn’t moved noticeably for some time, so he went to the cell door. Once he saw Lampreau, noting his colour wasn’t right and a small amount of liquid was coming out of his mouth, the guard called for an RCMP officer.

The officer immediately called for paramedics.

According to the report, a postmortem examination by BC Coroners Service reported the cause of death as inflammation of the heart muscles. Methamphetamine toxicity was also reported as a significant factor in his death.

The purpose of the IIO investigation is to determine whether police action or inaction may have led to the death of someone.

“Unfortunately, (Lampreau) suffered from a health condition that caused his death,” the report states. “The actions of police during his time in custody were reasonable and fell well within the standard of care expected.”