'This is not a TV drama': Sask. RCMP says finding answers in James Smith Cree Nation suspect's death will take time
The head of the Saskatchewan RCMP is asking for patience in the investigation into the death of Myles Sanderson.
The statement comes more than a week after the arrest and subsequent in-custody death of Sanderson, who was one of the suspects in a mass stabbing that left 10 people dead on James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon, Sask.
Sanderson went into medical distress shortly after his Sept. 7 arrest and was rushed to hospital in Saskatoon.
"I know some have taken issue with the fact that at our press conference - hours after the arrest and death of Myles Sanderson - that I did not have answers as to how he died," Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said in a news release.
"When I gave my statement and answered questions, we did not know – and still do not know – the cause of death for Myles Sanderson and to speculate would be irresponsible," Blackmore said.
Such speculation could potentially undermine the Saskatoon Police Service investigation into Sanderson's in-custody death, which is being monitored by the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team.
In Saskatchewan, investigations into serious incidents involving police are conducted by an outside police service.
Blackmore said she has "seen it written" that police had failed to uphold their duty of care in Sanderson's arrest.
"This statement is extremely premature given we do not yet have information on what led to his death. I ask you all to remember this is not a TV drama where we will have all of the answers by the end of the episode," Blackmore said.
"Complex investigations of this nature take time and we look forward to providing further details once they have been confirmed," she said.
During the news conference which followed Sanderson's death, Blackmore confirmed the Mounties on scene had performed lifesaving measures prior to the arrival of paramedics.
The first priority for RCMP is sharing information with the families of victims, Blackmore said.
However, she said police are "fully committed" to providing a detailed timeline of the mass stabbing incident.
"I understand and appreciate there are still unanswered questions," she said.
"Our major crimes unit continues to work to put the pieces together so we can provide further information to the public."
The other suspect in the killings, Sanderson's brother Damien, was found dead in a grassy area on James Smith Cree Nation from injuries police do not believe were self inflicted.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Israel sends tanks into Rafah on raids amid Gaza-wide offensive
Israeli tanks mounted raids across Rafah in defiance of the World Court for a second day on Wednesday, after Washington said the assault did not amount to a major ground operation in the southern Gazan city that U.S. officials have warned Israel to avoid.
Five more Ontario school boards join lawsuit against social media platforms
Five additional Ontario school boards and two independent private schools have joined a lawsuit against the owners of multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
In bizarre provocation, North Korea flies trash, manure balloons over the South
North Korea flew hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea in one of its most bizarre provocations against its rival in years, prompting the South’s military to mobilize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects and debris in different parts of the country.
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.