The family of a 30-year-old man who passed away in an RCMP holding cell in northern Alberta, undiscovered for hours, is requesting an independent review following the clearance of the arresting officers from any wrongdoing. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team disclosed its investigation on the 2022 arrest and subsequent overdose death of Addison Hartzler, who died at the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment after seeking help by dialing 911.
According to the ASIRT investigation, Hartzler collapsed on the floor of his cell at 8:19 a.m. and remained in that position until after 11 a.m. when he was pronounced dead. Officers suspected Hartzler was under the influence of drugs and collapsed after repeatedly hitting his head on the cell wall.
Hartzler’s family is urging the provincial government to review the outcomes of the police watchdog investigation and the Crown’s decision not to pursue criminal charges. The Justice Ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
ASIRT’s Executive Director Matthew Block, in his investigation, found that Hartzler was inadequately monitored in his holding cell. An autopsy indicated that Hartzler died from a cocaine overdose leading to cardiac arrest, although it was uncertain if immediate medical assistance could have saved his life.
Hartzler’s police interaction commenced on the night of June 3, 2022, after he dialed 911 to report a break-in at his Grande Prairie residence. Responding officers discovered Hartzler disoriented and having difficulty communicating, leading them to suspect drug intoxication. Despite no break-in found, Hartzler, described as confused but compliant, was arrested for public mischief and placed in a holding cell where he eventually collapsed and passed away.
ASIRT referred the case to ACPS for a decision on potential charges, but the Crown chose not to proceed, recommending additional training for officers on cell checks and lawful arrests. The report identified issues with the officers’ reasons for arresting Hartzler, citing inconsistencies.
Gregory Hartzler, Addison’s father, expressed disbelief at the findings, alleging medical neglect contributed to his son’s demise without accountability. The family has raised concerns with relevant authorities and is advocating for an independent review to assess the lack of medical intervention’s impact on Hartzler’s death, advocating for police accountability and transparency in decision-making processes. Calls are made for legislative changes to ensure necessary medical care is provided to prisoners in distress.