Police watchdog called after detained man suffers fractured ribs, punctured lung

Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating the circumstances surrounding a man who was kept overnight at a northern detachment and woke up with serious injuries.

First Nation safety officers were called to a bar in Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) aboutan intoxicated man on Oct. 28, according to theIndependent Investigation Unit of Manitoba .

The man became unco-operative andduring a struggle to detain him, an officer fell on top of him.

Officers with the Manitoba First Nations Police Service were called to assist, and transported the man to the MFNPS police detachment in OCN, where he was lodged overnight under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act.

As the man was about to be released the following day, he complained of a sore chest. He was takento hospital in the neighbouring town of The Pas, where he was diagnosed with fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The man was then transported to the Health Science Centre in Winnipeg for treatment.

Internal injuries that require hospital admission are defined as a serious injury underIIU regulations, so the watchdog is mandated to investigate.

Anyone with information or video footage that could assist the investigation are asked to contact the IIU toll-free at 1-844-667-6060.

As the investigation continues,further details will be provided, the IIU said in a news release.

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