Coroner’s inquest likely in Nova Hotel death

RCMP Supt. Steve McVarnock says he expects there will be a coroner’s inquest into an Iqaluit woman’s death after being in police custody.

“That’s a way for the facts to come forward in a non-accusatory way,” McVarnock told reporters during a Sept. 14 briefing, while adding the final decision lies with the coroner.

The woman, whose name hasn’t been released, died in an Ottawa hospital Aug. 14 after falling down the stairs outside the Nova Hotel Aug. 9. She was taken to hospital, then arrested after allegedly causing a disturbance in the emergency ward.

At one point police, who were told by hospital staff to bring the woman back once sober, phoned the hospital to see about bringing the woman in for treatment. They were told the hospital was too busy.

Three hours later police took her to the hospital after finding her on the floor of a jail cell. She was medevaced to Ottawa and later died.

RCMP from Manitoba’s major crimes unit are investigating the death.

McVarnock said the Iqaluit detachment’s cells are monitored by video and that officers check prisoners at least every 15 minutes. The watch commander will add a second officer to watch prisoner when the cells are busy, McVarnock added.