Home / Crime and Justice / Man Dies After Police Struggle: No Charges
Man Dies After Police Struggle: No Charges
22 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Man died after police altercation in Bedford.
- Police deployed a stun gun; seven officers restrained him.
- Autopsy cited heart disease, cocaine, and exertion as causes.
In Bedford, a 37-year-old man died on February 28, 2025, after an encounter with Halifax Regional Police officers. Responding to calls about a man experiencing a "cocaine high" and acting erratically near West Bedford School, officers located the individual.
According to the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) report, the man became confrontational, leading an officer to deploy a stun gun that failed to make full contact. Seven officers were eventually required to physically restrain him.
Shortly after being handcuffed, the man ceased breathing. Despite immediate medical attention from officers and firefighters, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy determined his death was likely due to a combination of pre-existing heart disease, cocaine intoxication, and the physical exertion from the altercation. SIRT concluded that the force used by the officers was reasonable, and no charges will be filed in what has been termed a tragic situation.
