In the second day of the coroner’s inquest into the death of Jeremy Sabourin, testimony was given around Assiniboia RCMP’s handling of the case. 

Sabourin died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while in custody of the Moose Jaw Police Service on Oct. 7, 2021. 

Earlier in the day, the inquest heard from Moose Jaw Police Service Const. Rod Zoerb about search techniques taught at the Saskatchewan Police College as well as information about the pistol Sabourin used to commit suicide in a Moose Jaw Police Service holding cell. 

The inquest heard from Const. Paisley Armstrong of the Assiniboia RCMP, who was the lead investigator in the Sabourin case. A warrant had been issued for Sabourin’s arrest in December of 2020 for sexual assault charges. 

Armstrong said she was attending auto parts store in Assiniboia to get papers signed by a Justice of the Peace when she recognized Sabourin’s white Ford Ranger truck. She said Sabourin was resistant when he was arrested. She said at one point she had his right arm in handcuffs but he brought his left arm towards his right pocket that had a utility knife which Armstrong threw away. It was unknown if he was possibly reaching for the gun. 

She received backup from Cpl. Mark Dijkstra who conducted a roadside search. 

At the detachment, Sabourin was searched by Const. Colin Tetrault, who Armstrong was field training. 

The search came up with a USB drive, but otherwise Armstrong said it was a “textbook search” performed how they were taught at Depot Division. 

She testified that at Depot that are taught to check pockets and waistbands by putting the subject in a “disadvantaged position” with feet slightly apart and leaning slightly forward. When asked by Coroner’s counsel Robin Ritter why they would have someone lean forward she said puts the subject at a disadvantage if they try to resist. 

Armstrong had also gained knowledge that Sabourin usually had a gun on him and that was why Sabourin’s truck was searched and a loaded 9mm handgun was found. 

She told the inquest that the original plan was to have him released on a Justice of the Peace order. Once the loaded gun was found, he was additionally charged with unsafe storage of a firearm and the plan was changed. The RCMP got an order to have him detained and appear in court as soon as possible. 

After Sabourin was transported to Moose Jaw, a search warrant was issued to search Sabourin’s residence and his parent’s house to seize guns registered to him. 

The end result was that all of the guns were recovered except for a “derringer” piston, which would ultimately be the North American Mini-Master 22-calibre revolver Sabourin used to end his life. 

Armstrong said the general consensus was that the missing gun was in a large, heavy safe at Sabourin’s house that they couldn’t get into or a more thorough search of the truck was needed. 

Armstong said since the incident the RCMP policy has changed so that thorough physical searches and metal detector wands are mandatory.  

She said a metal detector wand was available to them at the time, but it was not a regular practice. 

The inquest also heard from Dijkstra. He said when he did the roadside search, he used an “ask, look, pat and squeeze” technique. He asked Sabourin if he had anyone on him that would cause harm, look for any abnormalities and pat and squeeze clothing including around the waistband of his pants. He said roadside searches are not overly thorough. 

“To this day, I have no idea where it was,” Dijkstra told the inquest. 

He said he did not know where the metal detector wand at the Assiniboia RCMP was at the time but in March of 2022 the policy changed so that everyone got wanded before and after a physical search. 

Dijkstra said his recommendation to make sure policies are followed was to have them reviewed often and that senior members ensure policies are followed. 

He was part of the search of Sabourin’s parents' house for guns registered in his name. It was during the ride back to the detachment that he learned there was a missing “derringer” gun. 

Const. Paul Evans of the Coronach RCMP at the time was the officer on loan to Assiniboia to transport Sabourin to Moose Jaw. Despite previous testimony, Evans said he did not search Sabourin before taking him to Moose Jaw. He said Sabourin was in his basic layers of a t-shirt, pants and socks and trusted his colleagues had done a thorough search. 

He said at the time he was not familiar with the metal detector wand because Coronach did not have cells. He told the inquest that he now searches with a metal detector for everyone he transports. At the time, the policy was up to the risk assessment of the transporting officer. 

Evans testified that then Staff Sgt. Chris Flanagan of the Moose Jaw Police Service asked if Sabourin had been searched and Evans claimed to say he didn’t personally, but he was searched in Assiniboia. Flanagan’s lawyer Matthew Schmeling did try to challenge what was said, claiming Evans said “I didn’t find anything.” 

Evans said he’s transferred about 10-15 prisoners to Moose Jaw before and said it was unusual that Sabourin was not searched. 

It was upon returning to Assiniboia that Evans learned of the missing gun as he helped with the search of Sabourin’s residence. 

Also testifying was Dr. Matthew Orde, the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Sabourin. He confirmed Sabourin dead from the gunshot wound to the head and, even with immediate care, it likely would have been fatal. 

Advanced care paramedic Braelyn Kirstein (surname was Hoffland at the time of the incident). She was the advanced care paramedic at the scene who pronounced Sabourin dead at 9:25 a.m. on Oct. 7, 2021. 

Under The Coroners Act, 1999, the chief coroner can hold a public inquest into the death of an inmate unless the coroner is satisfied that the person’s death was from natural causes and was not preventable.  

According to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the coroner’s office, public inquests are fact-finding only and are not intended to find fault.   

Inquests are held to inform the public about the circumstances around the death, make dangerous practices and conditions known and make recommendations to avoid preventable deaths. 

The Coroners inquest will resume on Wednesday at the Court of Kings Bench in Moose Jaw.