Solomon Uyarasuk inquest: 2nd RCMP officer testifies

The second RCMP officer to testify at the coroners inquest underway in Igloolik said Solomon Uyarasuk was naked and looked like he was almost asleep when his partner went to get the communitys nurse and he went to the office to make notes about the evening.

When the officers returned to the cell, theyfound Uyarasukwith his belt around his neck and attached to the meal slot.

Const. Martin Noel spoke by videoconference from Ottawa at the inquest looking into how 26-year-old Uyarasuk died in the Igloolik detachment in September of 2012.

Noel has spent nine years with the RCMP, including time at 11 different Nunavut detachments, but had only been in Igloolik for two weeks when Uyarasuk was taken into custody.

His version of events was similar to that of his partner that day, Sgt. Greg Murphy.

The pair took Uyarasuk into custody after responding to a noise complaint.

Both say Uyarasuk became angry and forcefully bashed his head against the Plexiglas shield in the police truck.

Both say Uyarasuk was screaming the whole time, Please don't beat me Don't hit me with a baton Don't smash my head into the concrete.

Noel said hes heard prisoners make similar pleas before, but he was surprised at how specific Uyarasuks were.

The amount ofblood on Uyarasuk's face from banging his head concerned Noel. He said it was thick and coagulated and he was scared it was a serious head injury.

Noel saidwhen he and Murphy placed Solomon Uyarasuk in the cell they were unable to remove his belt.

He saidhe checked on Uyarasuk at 6:06 a.m. and could see him through the open meal slot in the door, naked and looking almost asleep.

Noel said he didn't sit at the guard desk by the cell while Murphy left to get the nurse, because Uyarasuk didn't appear to be suicidal.

When Murphy returned with the nurse, Noel returned to the cell but had difficulty opening the door.

Noel sounded emotional when he described what he saw next.

Noel said Uyarasuk was making a gurgling sound and remembers his face being purple and blue.

He couldn't untie the knot with his gloves on and screamed at the nurse and Murphy to get a knife or scissors, though both officers were too new to the detachment to know where to find either.

Eventually Murphy returned with a serrated knife.

Meal slot didnt stay shut

During cross-examination, Noel told the inquest the detachments staff sergeant had voiced concerns that the meal slot door didnt stay shut and feared a prisoner could attach a piece of clothing to it and harm themselves.

Noel saidhe let a superior in Iqaluit know about the concerns by email.

He saidit's a problem in many detachments in the North.