An Edmonton family is looking for answers after a disabled man became unconscious and stopped breathing while in police custody – then died in hospital.
Trevor Proudman, 32, stopped breathing after he was handcuffed and left unsupervised in a police van on Wednesday. He was rushed to hospital but died Thursday morning after he was taken off life support.
“We just watched our beautiful Trevor die, it was terrible,” said his brother, Richard Proudman.
Trevor Proudman had Prader Willi Syndrome and could be compulsive and argumentative.
Richard Proudman says his brother had got into an argument with his caregiver at a northside medical clinic. He said Trevor yelled at staff, who told him to be quiet or he would be banned from the clinic.
Trevor Proudman (right), died Wednesday – one day after he stopped breathing while unsupervised in a police van. (Provided)
“That just makes him more agitated – puts fuel on the fire,” Richard Proudman said.
However, Proudman says his brother had calmed down by the time police arrived – but that didn’t stop police from arresting him.
“They handcuffed him and put him in the back of a police van, at which point he was left unsupervised.”
Proudman says police then went back inside the clinic to speak to the staff.
When they returned to their vehicle, Trevor Proudman had stopped breathing.
Now, Richard Proudman wants answers.
“If they were following police procedure and this was the result, then policy and procedure needs to be changed.”
The Edmonton Police Service says it is conducting an internal review into the death.
