SiRT Concludes Investigation into Death

The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) found no reasonable grounds to believe that members of the Halifax Region Police (HRP) committed a criminal offence in connection to the death of an adult male in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

On the evening of February 22, 2025, HRP officers responded to a call regarding an adult male who had recently left the QE II Hospital and was experiencing a mental health crisis. This was the fourth call in three days made to the police to assist the male. HRP requested EHS assistance before heading to the residence and throughout the interaction. When the officers arrived on the scene they attempted to speak with the male. He was uncooperative and threw items at the officers. Officers attempted to arrest him under the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act (IPTA). The male resisted arrest and a struggle ensued. During the struggle a taser was deployed. Once in handcuffs, after some time the male's heath began to deteriorate. Officers performed CPR until EHS and firefighters arrived. These measures were unsuccessful and the male was declared deceased at the scene.

The Director's summary report is available online: SiRT Concludes Investigation into Death | Serious Incident Response Team .

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest to be investigated that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

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Media Contact: Khalehla Perrault, Manager of Communications & Special Projects