The final pieces of evidence were presented on Wednesday at the coroner’s inquest into the death of a 40-year-old Assiniboia man who died while in the custody of the Moose Jaw Police Service. The inquest is being held at the Moose Jaw Court of King’s Bench. 

Jeremy Sabourin died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while in a holding cell on Oct. 7, 2021. Sabourin was transported from the Assiniboia RCMP to the Moose Jaw Police Service for his court appearance. He was arrested in Assiniboia on a warrant for a sexual assault charge 

Day 3 of the inquest began with Const. Colin Tetreault, the junior officer at the Assiniboia RCMP detachment who searched Sabourin at the detachment after he was arrested. You can read more about his testimony here. 

Taking to the standing on Wednesday afternoon was Sgt. Dennis Silliker. He was the commanding officer at the Assiniboia detachment on the date of the incident. His past history included protection detail for the Prime Minister, training RCMP bodyguards and currently works at the Regina headquarters in livestock investigation. Silliker said he faced no disciplinary action following the incident but took time off for his mental health.  

Silliker observed Tetreault’s search of Sabourin at the detachment. He felt it was a thorough search. 

“I’ve ran this through my mind many, many, many times. I believe there was a firearm on this person. I just don’t know where at the time,” Silliker told the inquest. 

After the event, Silliker understood the metal detector wand policy changed so it is used on all prisoners. He said the policy is essential moving forward. Previous to the event, Silliker had no knowledge of a mandatory metal detector wand policy. 

He also testified that policies are available to all officers through an online portal. 

Silliker was a part of the search of Sabourin’s parents’ house for guns. Evidence given was that Sabourin’s father asked Silliker if they found the “small gun.” 

Silliker testified that he asked Sabourin’s father several questions. Silliker said the father told him Sabourin didn’t have the gun on him or in his vehicle but didn’t know if it was in Sabourin’s home, giving him reason to believe the gun was not on Sabourin. 

A total of 15 guns owned by Sabourin were seized between the two houses. The “small gun” was never recovered until Sabourin’s death. 

Silliker was also involved with the search of Sabourin’s truck and confirmed a loaded 9mm gun was found as well as 22-calibre ammunition. 

In looking at the RCMP’s C-13 screening forms, Silliker acknowledged that Sabourin’s new charges for the unsafe storage of the 9mm was not on the form. The C-13 form went with Sabourin when he was transported to Moose Jaw so the Moose Jaw Police Service were not aware of the gun charges. 

The final witness called was Sgt. Brett Kovar, an RCMP Division Risk Advisor for Saskatchewan. His role is to direct and manage internal reviews when there this policy or training gaps or any other non-compliance.  

The final internal review report for this incident was not written by Kovar, but by his predecessor. 

Kovar clarified that Depot Division trains officers at the national standard as each province/division has different policies. The national standard for use of a metal detector wand is to use it “when possible.” However, “F” Division’s policy for Saskatchewan is wands “shall be” used before and after a physical search. 

In a “F” Division policy dated Oct. 20, 2020, it said every prisoner “will be” searched with a wand. That was amended after the incident to use stronger wording and add “before and after a physical search.” 

Signage has also been posted at the RCMP detachments reminding officers that wand searches are mandatory (during earlier testimony, the inquest learned signage was also put up at the Moose Jaw Police Service that all prisoners will be wand searched). 

Kovar was asked by RCMP lawyer Stephen McLachlin what will prevail if there is a discrepancy between the national standard and divisional policies. He told the inquest divisional policies should always be followed. 

He said the Silliker and the Assiniboia detachment were informed of the amended wand policy and ensured their understanding of the new policy. 

He added that it is up to the detachment commanders to ensure policies are read and understood. There are also no examines on policies unless an officer is applying to be promoted, which is not mandatory. 

Kovar also went through the different types of searches from a frisk search to strip searches and cavity searches. He said strip and cavity searches are not done unless there are reasonable grounds to perform them and must to approved by a supervising officer. 

Presiding coroner Blaine Beavan inquired whether asking a subject to unbutton their pants to see their underwear waistline or strip down to their underwear would be considered a strip search. Kovar said asking someone to unbutton their pants would not be a strip search because bare genitals would not be showing but it is rarely done unless there is reasonable grounds to do so. Stripping down to underwear would also not be a strip search either, according to Kovar, but it would not be a dignified way of searching a subject. 

Under The Coroners Act, 1999, the chief coroner can hold a public inquest into the death of an inmate unless the coroner is satisfied that the person’s death was from natural causes and was not preventable.  

According to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the coroner’s office, public inquests are fact-finding only and are not intended to find fault.   

The inquest is expected to wrap up on Thursday with the juror being charged by the presiding coroner in the morning. The juror will deliberate and come back with the name of the deceased and the date, time and location of the death as well as recommendations on how this death can be prevented in the future.