The RCMP in Saskatchewan have asked for an independent, external investigation after a woman died in custody this week. 

Monday night, officers from the Broadview RCMP detachment responded to a call for assistance in Kennedy. There was a report of a distraught person in the town, which is located 176 kilometres southeast of Regina. 

A 26-year-old woman was taken into the care of the police under the Mental Health Act. Shortly afterwards, she went into medical distress.  

EMS were already on the scene and transported the woman to the hospital. She was declared deceased around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.  

The RCMP requested that the Moose Jaw Police Service conduct an independent external investigation into the circumstances surrounding the in-custody death of the woman. The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is also involved in the investigation, and it has been requested the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent observer. 

The RCMP have stated the name of the woman is not being released at this time, and no further information can be made available as the matter is now subject to the external investigation.