A man who was being held in the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) detention unit has died.
The man was found unresponsive around 1:20 a.m. Thursday, according to an SPS news release.
Emergency medical care was provided and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, SPS said.
The man was staying in a cell after officers were unable to find a place to take him, SPS said.
Around 9 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a report of an intoxicated male who had fallen in the 1400 block of Eighth Street East, according to SPS.
SPS said the 51-year-old man was assessed by paramedics at the scene and was taken to detention after "alternative arrangements to house the man were unsuccessful."
The man was checked regularly by detention staff, SPS said.
SPS said the province has appointed two independent observers to investigate.
Saskatoon police chief Troy Cooper said the 51-year-old man denied medical assistance from the person who initially called police. He was then assessed by paramedics once they arrived and given another assessment when he was taken to his cell at Saskatoon police headquarters.
"There was no obvious signs of a medical condition for us to be concerned about when we got him assessed," Cooper said.
During Thursday's board of police commissioners meeting, Cooper said many people in overnight detention don't often present health risks immediately, but the cells are checked constantly and are always recorded.
Cooper said police tried to call the 51-year-old man's family Wednesday night, but was unable to elaborate on any other specifics.
Broadly speaking, Cooper said officers often look to "other suitable arrangements" for an intoxicated person to spend the evening, such as a detox centre.
"That's not always available to us. Detention is the last resort for people who are intoxicated," he said.
Cooper said the investigation is in its infancy, but he has full confidence all circumstances into the man's death, and the hours preceding his run-in with police, will be revealed in due course.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
