Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jun 2006
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2006 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Darren Bernhardt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

MORE POLICE SENSITIVITY NEEDED, CORONER'S INQUEST HEARS

City Has Lack Of Resources To Deal With Drugs: Lawyer

Nicole Fontaine had one request when asked Monday, during a coroner's 
inquest into her sister's death, what recommendations a jury should 
impart police to avoid another tragedy.

"Sensitivity," she said, dabbing tears.

"When you walk in those doors (to police detention cells), yeah, 
you're in trouble but you can't judge a book by its cover. Don't 
doubt what somebody's saying. If they're asking for help, help them," 
Fontaine added. "Don't wait until the last minute. That last minute 
takes them away."

Her sister, Dona Sanderson, an aboriginal woman and mother of a 
little girl, died June 26, 2005, in police custody after being 
arrested on drug charges and an outstanding warrant.

Last week, the inquest was told how Sanderson was arrested June 19 on 
a routine traffic stop when police found 270 grams of marijuana under 
her seat. Police didn't know she also had a packet of cocaine, worth 
about $5,000, hidden in her vagina.

While she was locked up, waiting for a court appearance the next 
morning, the drug leeched into her system through the sandwich bag in 
which it was wrapped. Sanderson collapsed and stopped breathing early 
in the morning of June 20 -- exactly one year earlier, Fontaine noted 
as she strained to hold back more tears.

A six-member jury, comprised of five women and one man, is charged 
with finding how, where, when and by what means Sanderson died and 
with making recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

A pathologist testified last week the massive dose of cocaine cut off 
oxygen to Sanderson's brain and heart. Her family told doctors to 
remove life-support six days later.

Police response time to Sanderson's pleas and obvious distress, along 
with a lack of resources in the community for addicts, came under fire Monday.

Saskatoon Police Service lawyer Greg Baines agreed Monday that 
Saskatoon has an "incredible lack of resources." He was commenting on 
Sanderson being six months away from getting a bed in a short-term 
treatment centre.

The inquest heard Sanderson first gave police an alias when they 
tried arresting her. In police cells, she complained of a sore wrist 
and back and was taken to hospital, later confessing to an officer 
that it was a ruse to attempt an escape.

When she began complaining of actual health problems, officers didn't 
take her seriously. A police video shows her pacing, squatting up and 
down and then lying on the floor for nearly 25 minutes. Around 6:30 
a.m. on June 20, someone has a conversation with Sanderson, who says, 
"My heart, my heart." But 12 minutes later, the person is seen 
delivering breakfast to her.

It wasn't until Sanderson was lying on her back, staring at the 
ceiling with her body trembling, that a 911 call was placed. Even 
then, a female special constable is heard on the 911 tape chuckling 
when the operator asks if Sanderson is conscious. "When she wants to 
be," the officer says. The tape was played at the inquest last week.

Kim Pate, executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth 
Fry Societies, which advocates on behalf of females in the justice 
system, said Monday the number of incarcerated women in Canada has 
doubled in 15 years. More money seems to be spent on hiring officers 
and catching people than finding methods of intervention through 
community programs and treatment, she said.

"The human social cost of that is huge," she added.

Baines said Sanderson's arrest was necessary as she had warrants and 
drugs. Her record also included charges of assault and armed robbery, 
which meant police had to treat her as potentially violent and be wary.

He also noted Sanderson had the opportunity to tell nurses or doctors 
of her situation during the first visit but did not. As for the 
community supports Pate recommends, "those are services the police 
have no power to create," Baines said. He then asked Pate if 
Sanderson "died because she was on a waiting list because there were 
no beds (at a treatment centre)?"

"That's my understanding," Pate said.

The inquest wrapped up Monday afternoon with the jury being given 
direction from coroner Alma Wiebe. They began deliberating but had 
not reached a decision by the day's end. They will reconvene this morning.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman