Prince Albert Penitentiary. Photo courtesy Facebook.
An inmate at the federal penitentiary in Prince Albert is dead.
Joseph Vincent Manitopyes, 31, was found in a state that indicated he was in medical distress by Penitentiary staff in his medium security unit cell on Tuesday.
Staff acted quickly, and Manitopyes was taken to the Victoria Hospital by ambulance where he “was eventually pronounced deceased much later on in the evening,” said Darcy Begrand, spokesman for the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.
The time of death was about 10:35 p.m.
Manitopyes’ place of birth was Saskatoon, but Begrand said he believes Muskowekwan First Nation was his home reserve.
He had been a year into serving a five year, seven month sentence for attempted robbery, robbery, wearing a mask with intent, and possession of the proceeds of crime of a value over $5,000.
Begrand said proper protocol was followed after Manitopyes’ death.
“Correctional service takes these situations very, very seriously and in all cases involving the death of an inmate the police was notified and coroner’s been notified,” he said.
There are approximately 500 other inmates in the penitentiary’s medium security cells, which is the highest population of inmates in the facility.
Begrand said a report from the coroner’s office will be in charge of disclosing the cause of death. If not, an inquest into Manitopyes’ death would do so.
Begrand said an inquest is likely in this case, and added that Correctional Services Canada will review its processes as a result of this death.