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A coroner’s inquest has been scheduled into the overdose death of Samantha Nicole Patrick while in Surrey RCMP holding cells five years ago.
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Patrick, 28, died in hospital in May 2018, after being arrested on three outstanding warrants. She was found not breathing in her cell on May 7, a day after being remanded, and was pronounced dead in hospital five days later.
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An investigation into the death by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) found that Patrick concealed a small packet of drugs including fentanyl and went into medical distress after appearing to ingest the drugs while in her cell.
She was given CPR by a nurse and police officers and was administered Narcan by the nurse before being taken to hospital.
An IIO report into the incident released in August 2018 cleared police of wrongdoing, and noted there was no evidence of any improper handling of Patrick by police.
But the inquest will be held to confirm facts surrounding her death and to allow a jury to make recommendations to prevent deaths in similar circumstances. No fault-finding or legal conclusions are allowed by the jury.
Under the Coroners Act, an inquest is mandatory for any death that occurs when a person dies in custody.
The B.C. Coroners Service inquest will be held in Burnaby Coroners Court starting on July 24. Margaret Janzen will preside.
jruttle@postmedia.com
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