The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating as the driver made contact with officers from two police services before his death.
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An 18-year-old male was found dead in a sewage lagoon on Friday night, triggering an investigation by Saskatchewan’s police watchdog.
Around 1 a.m. on Aug. 24, Warman RCMP observed a truck driving with its lights off on Highway 16 outside Saskatoon, according to a news release issued by the Ministry of Justice on Thursday.
The vehicle “failed to stop and accelerated out of sight” after the RCMP officer activated emergency lights. Officers did not pursue the truck, but reported the interaction and vehicle’s description to Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) and Dalmeny Police Service (DPS).
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Half an hour later, a member of CPPS saw the same vehicle driving at a “normal rate of speed but without tail lights,” the release continued. The officer reported that the vehicle had turned off Highway 16, before turning onto the same road at a distance but without activating emergency lights.
The vehicle then “proceeded off the road into a field, and out of sight of police.” RCMP, CPSS and DPS members searched the area but were unable to locate the truck at that time.
The following morning, the registered owner of the vehicle was reported missing and a second search of the area where the vehicle was last seen found the truck “partially submerged in the sewage lagoon near Langham.”
RCMP and Saskatoon Police Service conducted an aerial search that did not locate the driver. Emergency services later recovered the body of an 18-year-old male floating in the lagoon on Sunday, identified as the registered owner who was reported missing. No further details were provided about the individual.
Saskatchewan RCMP notified the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) on Aug. 26 of the man’s death. Civilian executive director Gregory Gudelot has now launched an investigation.
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SIRT’s mandate is to independently investigate all incidents involving police officers in which a person suffers serious injury or death, either in police custody or due to the actions of an officer. The unit also investigates allegations of sexual assault or interpersonal violence involving police, both on or off duty.
Five SIRT investigators have been deployed, and will examine police conduct during the incident.
SIRT has said no further information will be released at this time. The independent unit’s mandate requires a final report be issued to the public within 90 days of an investigation’s conclusion. The report will include a synopsis of the timeline of events, a final decision on the file and whether or not charges have been laid.
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