Family disputes police claims about fake gun death at Saskatoon hospital

family members of a person who died Battle with security at Saskatoon hospital He is disputing claims made by city police regarding the presence of a fake gun in his room.

“I just want answers. I just want to know how this happened?” said Val DuBois, Trevor DuBois’ mother.

According to his family, Trevor, 36, was receiving treatment for brain cancer at the Royal University Hospital.

Saskatoon police say officers were called to the hospital shortly after 7 a.m. CST Friday after receiving reports that a person had died.

Police said investigators determined that hospital security entered a patient’s room after receiving a report that a firearm had been seen inside.

“When security attempted to restrain the male, a physical altercation occurred. During the interaction, the male was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead,” a police news release said.

After the incident, officers found an imitation firearm, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Trevor’s family said that the police blindsided them by publishing a news release about the incident without telling them what it said.

Val DuBois said the revelation from police about the fake gun was a “dagger.”

Vail said the family was not consulted or briefed before releasing the information and they dispute the presence of a fake firearm, believing it was a bright pink cigarette holder and lighter.

DuBois’s family has since provided the media with a photo of a similar model cigarette holder and lighter.

He emphasized that the version DuBois had in his possession at the time of his death would have been bright pink with a lemon green tip.

Saskatoon police declined to provide a photo of the fake gun when asked by CBC, saying they were unable to confirm or comment on specifications as a result of the ongoing investigation.

Police accepted a question about the concerns raised by the family and said they were committed to providing an update when appropriate.

A family grieving with few answers

At a news conference Monday, family members were joined by representatives of the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

Relatives said they were “mourning in darkness.”

“We can’t even tell you when he passed or what happened after that, because we don’t know,” said Jaden DuBois, Trevor’s niece.

His older brother, Ryan DuBois, described him as kind and without “a malicious bone in his body.”

Ryan urged people to avoid jumping to conclusions, saying agencies should be allowed to conduct their own investigations.

However, he questioned the training of security staff in Saskatchewan hospitals.

“All Saskatchewan hospital security should be able to prevent violence, deescalate situations, call police, get help, rather than attacking, hurting or killing people,” Ryan said.

DuBois grew up as Metis and later became a member of the Muskogee First Nation, his relatives said.

They described him as a caring and vivacious man with a heart of gold who helped others, including First Nations youth struggling with mental health in northern Saskatchewan.

Chief Ron Bear of the Musquodah First Nation told reporters, “It’s unfortunate that these types of things happen, but we need the truth. We need to get answers here.”

Family members said they also want answers about what happened in the patient’s room that led to the altercation. He said he believed DuBois’s death could have been prevented.

Marc Arcand, tribal chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, criticized the health care system during the news conference.

He called on the province and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to address systemic racism against First Nations people in the system, calling Trevor’s death a “worst-case scenario.”

Arcand said, “He went there to get help. He did not die on the surgical table. In our opinion, he was attacked and a major crime was committed that took his life.”

He called on First Nations to exercise some form of oversight of institutions such as hospitals.

In a statement released Monday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said Dubois’ death has been considered serious incidentWhich initiates a legislative process that includes a formal internal review.

It has also launched a review of the security officer’s use of force.

The SHA said the officer involved in the altercation with DuBois has been suspended pending the outcome of a review and related labor relations investigation.

“At this time, and out of respect for the investigative processes and those involved, we are not able to provide further details regarding the circumstances of the incident,” the SHA statement said.

Health Minister Jeremy Cockerill expressed his condolences to the family in a statement released on Monday.

“STC Chief Arcand and I have been in contact on the situation and will continue to work together,” Cockerill said.

“On the topic of facility security, I have had recent meetings with SHA to discuss some of these ongoing challenges and will have more to say on those discussions in the coming days and weeks.”

last month, SHA promises to work with Prince Albert Grand Council Hiring an Indigenous patient liaison to work in the emergency department of Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert after security guards escorted a man out of the building and left him out in the cold. The contracted security guards involved are now banned from working in SHA facilities.

In November, Saskatoon Police A man who brought a knife and gun to St. Paul’s Hospital was arrested and threatened staff, forcing the Saskatchewan Nurses Union to call for metal detectors in all hospitals.

The SHA said in December that a pilot project at the Royal University Hospital would use artificial intelligence technology to detect weapons.

NDP too Demanded the province develop an emergency plan To improve safety for workers and patients in hospitals.