Coroner's inquest to be held into death of man in Kamloops RCMP custody

BC Coroners Service is holding an inquest into the death of a man in Kamloops RCMP cells back in 2019. Randy Dale Lampreau, 49, was arrested for public intoxication on March 12, 2019. He was detained in a cell at the detachment overnight, but jail guards noticed he was in medical...

Coroner's inquest to be held into death of man in Kamloops RCMP custody
BC Coroners Service is holding an inquest into the death of a man in Kamloops RCMP cells back in 2019. Randy Dale Lampreau, 49, was arrested for public intoxication on March 12, 2019. He was detained in a cell at the detachment overnight, but jail guards noticed he was in medical distress around 5:45 a.m., according to a press release from B.C.’s police watchdog the Independent Investigations Office. Paramedics were called to the jail to help Lampreau, but he was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival. The IIO launched an investigation into his death shortly after. Investigators reviewed video footage, official reports, a civilian witness and more. Following the office’s investigation it said there was no inappropriate use of force, as guards had monitored Lampreau’s condition properly and the office cleared officials of any offences. Now, five years later, the BC Coroners Service is taking another look at what happened in an inquest, according to a press release from the service.  The inquest is a court proceeding set for July 22. The coroner’s inquest is going to do three things; determine the facts surrounding Lampreau’s death, make any recommendations that could prevent deaths in similar circumstances, and reassure the public that the circumstances of his death have not been overlooked, concealed or ignored. Kimberly Isbister is the coroner conducting the inquest and a jury is going to hear the evidence to make recommendations aimed at preventing other deaths in this type of situation. The jury will not be able to determine any legal responsibility, or any kind of legal conclusion. The inquest is going to be live streamed so anyone will be able to watch the proceedings virtually. Click here for more information about the coroner inquests. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/inquest-schedule-jury-findings-verdicts Click here for the livestream on July 22. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/inquest-schedule-jury-findings-verdicts/inquestlivestream To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .