Coroner's Inquest into Everett Riley Patrick's Death

0:00It's March 30. This is Vancouver News today, your AI-powered local news. A coroner's inquest is kicking off into the death of Everett Riley Patrick, a 42-year-old from Lake Bobby Nation. He passed away in hospital on April 20, 2020, after going into medical distress while in Prince George RCMP custody. Police had responded to a break-in alarm at a sports store downtown. They used tear gas and a police dog to get him out after three hours. Patrick was medically cleared at the hospital first, but back at the detachment, he fell several times, got carried to a cell, and later needed, emergency care, a pathologist ruled it, a brain hemorrhage from blunt force injuries. Folks in the community, especially indigenous families, have been pushing for answers since then. This hits hard in northern BC, where there have been protests over similar custody deaths involving first nation's men. Patrick's family has been vocal, wanting clarity on what went down. The independent investigations office looked into it and said in their 2022 report that

1:03were reasonable grounds and officer. Might have committed an offense, but prosecutors in 2023 decided not to lay charges, saying the evidence didn't meet the bar after Patrick seemed conscious and responsive post-hospital. That inquest starts Monday at 9.30 a.m. in Burn to Be Corner's Court. It's not about blame, but figuring out the facts, preventing future tragedies, and building trust mandatory stuff for any death and custody.