The widow of a man who died, shortly after leaving a police cell in Prince Albert, is speaking out about her family’s grief.
Cynthia Ballantyne was the wife of Billy Ballantyne.
The 44 year-old man was from the Little Red River Reserve and died after being rushed to hospital on Thursday.
Police say he was picked up because he was causing a disturbance at Victoria Hospital.
They say he began having trouble breathing while in a jail cell and had to be taken back to hospital but he didn’t make it.
Cynthia says an insinuation has been made that her husband was drinking at the time.
She says she knows that’s not the case because she’d spoken to him the night before and he knew she was planning to come in the next morning:
“I want to know what really happened to my husband in order for me to have comfort. It’s bothering me for them saying that he was drinking when he wasn’t drinking.”
Her husband was suffering from Tuberculosis and HIV and had gone to the hospital with pain in his shoulder.
She says the tragedy has been very hard for her and her family.
She explains it’s difficult for the children to understand their father isn’t coming home:
“My twins are taking it hard and my baby thinks his Dad is going to get up.”
Cynthia adds she still hasn’t been told what happened and wants answers about her husband’s death.
The police say autopsy results are pending but it has contacted the provincial government about the situation.
The Prince Albert/Parkland Health Region also say a review has been launched into the incident.