A coroner’s inquest is underway in Burnaby, British Columbia, examining the circumstances surrounding the death of a man from the Lake Babine Nation who passed away in police custody almost six years ago in Prince George. Everett Riley Patrick, aged 42, died in a hospital on April 20, 2020, after being involved with the Prince George RCMP detachment. Following his arrest on the morning of April 12 in response to a break-in at a sporting goods store in downtown Prince George, Patrick experienced medical distress and was hospitalized. Despite being cleared by medical professionals, he fell multiple times upon arrival at the detachment and was later discovered in medical distress in his cell. A pathologist report revealed that his death, occurring over a week later, was due to a brain bleed resulting from blunt force injuries.
Presiding over the inquest, Coroner Carolyn Maxwell and a five-person jury are set to hear testimonies from various individuals including family members, medical staff, law enforcement personnel, and others to establish the facts surrounding Patrick’s demise. During the proceedings, Jennifer Alexander, Patrick’s wife, emotionally recounted how Patrick, a father of seven, cherished his family and was deeply committed to them despite battling addiction. Alexander shared that both she and Patrick had parents who attended residential schools, fostering a deep bond between them. Patrick’s struggles with substance abuse led to multiple unsuccessful attempts at seeking treatment, leaving his loved ones devastated.
A central theme of the inquest is the quest for answers by Alexander and the family regarding the events leading to Patrick’s death. The inquest serves as a fact-finding inquiry aimed at making recommendations to prevent similar incidents and uphold public trust in the process. Notably, inquests are mandatory for deaths occurring while an individual was detained by or in the custody of a peace officer.