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Newborn Dies After Mother's Arrest; Police Cited for Indifference
20 Mar
Summary
- Newborn died after mother arrested for outstanding warrants.
- Watchdog cited apathy and inappropriate detachment attitude.
- Mother's drug use was a factor in the baby's death.
Alberta Mounties involved in the arrest of a pregnant woman are not facing charges related to the subsequent death of her baby. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) report concluded that the newborn's death was not preventable by earlier medical treatment for the mother.
The ASIRT report noted that while no charges would be laid against the officers, their attitude towards the woman was considered apathetic and inappropriate. The woman was arrested on May 9, 2024, for breaching conditions and outstanding warrants. She claimed to be 36 weeks pregnant, but this information was not adequately relayed or acted upon by the arresting detachment.
The report criticized the detachment's jaded and indifferent approach, stating that the mother, an admitted chronic drug user, was treated as less worthy of belief. Inadequate communication, described as a 'poorly executed game of broken telephone,' meant that critical information about her pregnancy and withdrawal symptoms did not reach necessary personnel.
The newborn died of cardio-respiratory arrest. Factors contributing to the death included inadequate fetal growth, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and the mother's drug use. The woman herself was found deceased in her home about a month later, with her death appearing unrelated to her time in police custody.
