The Saskatoon Police Service says a man died in police cells overnight.

Patrol officers were called out at 9 p.m. Wednesday night to a report of an intoxicated man who had fallen in the 1400 block of 8th Street East. Paramedics with Medavie Health Services West also attended the scene to assess the man’s condition while Police tried to secure alternative arrangements for housing the man for the night. Those efforts were unsuccessful so the 51 year old was taken to Saskatoon Police Service Detention, assessed again by the on-duty paramedic, taken to a cell, and checked on regularly by Detention staff.

At 1:30 a.m. this morning the man was found unresponsive, emergency medical attention was provided and he was pronounced deceased at the scene and an autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Members of the Saskatoon Police Service Major Crime Section are investigating. In addition the Province has been notified and has now appointed two independent investigative observers.

Paramedics have been in the Saskatoon Police Service Detention cells full-time, 24/7 since the last in-custody death in Detention in 2016.