N.S. police watchdog finds no evidence of wrongdoing in man's death in February

Nova Scotia’s police watchdog has determined no charges are warranted in the death of a 37-year-old man during an altercation with Halifax Regional Police officers earlier this year in Bedford.

According to the Serious Incident Response Team’s report on the investigation, written by director Erin Nauss, Halifax police responded to multiple 911 calls about a man reported to be high on cocaine and out of control near West Bedford School on Feb. 28, 2025.

Once there, the report found, police located the man, who “proceeded to clench his fists and start walking towards one of the officers, who feared for their safety.”

The officer deployed a stun gun, but it did not make full contact, the report said, and seven officers were ultimately required to restrain the man, who was described as being very strong.

“Shortly after being cuffed on his wrists and ankles the male stopped breathing,” SIRT wrote in a news release Monday.

Officers and firefighters who responded to the scene administered care before the arrival of paramedics, and the man was transported to hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead, the release said.

According to SIRT, an autopsy found that the man’s death was likely due to a combination of several factors, including “pre-existing heart disease, cocaine intoxication and the exertion of the altercation.”

SIRT determined the use of force was reasonable and no charges will be laid in relation to the incident it called a “tragic situation.”

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