Man declared brain dead after being stun-gunned multiple times by Prince Albert police taken off life-support

Warning: This story contains details some readers may find graphic.

A Prince Albert, Sask., man has been taken off life-support weeks after an altercation with police left him brain dead.

At least six members of the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) were involved in thearrest of Boden Umpherville, 40, in the early morning of April 1. Officersused stun guns, pepper spray and batons during the arrest.

Umpherville sustained severe injuries as a result and was sent to hospital. He was taken off of life-support Wednesday morning.

"It's just so hard to accept," said close friend Chase Sinclair.

PAPS declined to comment, deferring any questions to the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT).

SIRT,which investigates incidents where someone is injured or dies due to police actions or while in custody, is investigating what happened to Umpherville.

On April 1, officers pulled over a black Dodge Avenger in the 1100 block of 13th Street West in Prince Albert, Sask. Police say the vehicle had been reported stolen.

Three people were in the vehicle at the time, including its registered owner. The owner previously told CBC News they were driving and did not report it stolen.

Witness video obtained by CBC News showed six police officers surrounding the vehicle, ordering Umphervilleto getout. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said last week that acanine unit was also on scene.

During the altercation, the officers used stun guns on him multiple times, one officer used pepper spray, and at least one officer used a baton against the vehicle's windshield. At least one officer appeared to hit Umphervillebefore grabbing him out of the vehicle to make the arrest.

Umpherville went into medical distress shortly after and was sent to hospital,police say.

Doctors hadtold Umpherville's family that his condition was worsened because his heart had stopped for 20 minutes before being revived, the family previously said.

CBC News has not seen footage of what led to the vehicle being pulled over, nor of any provocation that may have led to police trying to arrest Umpherville.

SIRT investigators founda loaded handgun at the scene, according to a news release issued earlier this month. The provincial justice ministry previously told CBC News that the gun did not belong to Prince Albert police officers.

Officers involved had been put on administrative leave but have since returned to duty.

SIRT has 90 days to publicly release a report of the investigations findings, once it's concluded.

Per Saskatchewan's Police Act, a community liaison a person First Nation or Mtis ancestry has been appointed to help with the investigation, as Umpherville was an First Nations man.

CBC News asked the justice ministry whether Umpherville's death would affect the investigation, but a spokesperson says no more information can be provided because the investigation is ongoing.

In the meantime, Umpherville's family is organizing aceremony for the man.

A GoFundMe campaign, launched Wednesday afternoon, had raised $840 as of 4 p.m. CST.The campaign says themoney will be used to pay for a funeral, and any left over will be split among Umpherville's five children.

PAPS review report may be released: Tell

Last fall, former Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht was appointed to examine PAPS.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety has previously told CBC News that the review was complete,and that the final report had been submitted to minister Christine Tell. But the ministry, at the time, had no plans to publicly discuss thereport's release.

On Wednesday, however, Tell told reporters that the ministry will continue working with Prince Albert's board of police commissioners regarding the report's release.

"It is under active consideration as of today," said Tell, who has read through the report.

"In the public interest, I believe the report should be considered for public release."

The report, she said, had "a high number" of recommendations, with "a number of themes." Tell could not disclose what they were.

Tell said she is confident in the PAPS officersand the quality of policing service.

The Opposition NDP wants the report to released to provide transparency and maintain public trust, said Nicole Sarauer, the party's critic for corrections, policing and public safety.

"Full transparency is always needed when it comes to the justice system,and to ensure that the public confidence in policing in this provinceis upheld," Sarauer said.

Tell said a decision may be made inthe "next couple of weeks."