The BC Coroners Service (BCCS) has launched an inquest into the death of a man who passed away while detained by the Comox Valley RCMP.
BCCS were informed of the death of 31-year-old Joshua Colton Beek on April 24, 2022.
According to a report from the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO), Beek was taken into custody by police for “acting strangely” while holding a stick and standing in someone else’s yard.
Police attended the scene and believed that Beek was under the influence of drugs because he was talking “a mile a minute.”
Beek reportedly cooperated fully with police who took him into custody with the intent to release him once he had sobered up.
While in his cell, Beek fell and was not checked on for approximately 25 minutes, and was ultimately unresponsive.
He died in the hospital the next day.
Chief civilian officer Ronald MacDonald’s conclusion to the IIO investigation was that he wants to see changes made at the provincial level to reduce the number of people dying while in police custody.
Because Beek died while detained by police, an official coroner’s inquest was also triggered, as per the BC Coroner’s Act.
According to BCCS, this inquest is meant not to identify where the fault lies in Beek’s death, but does serve three primary functions.
First, the inquest will attempt to determine all of the facts related to a death, including how and by what means Beek came to his death
Second, the inquest will seek to make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Lastly, BCCS says this process is meant to boost public confidence that the circumstances surrounding Beek’s death will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored.
Beek’s coroner’s inquest will begin on Monday, March 16th, at the Burnaby Coroners’ Court
Presiding over the inquest will be an appointed coroner and a five-person jury who will hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding this death.
The jury will then have the opportunity to make recommendations, though they will not be tasked with making any finding of legal responsibility.
Beek was born in Port McNeill and was known to be stubborn, sassy, with a quick wit and a love for sports, shoes and hoodies.
“Josh could flat out drive anything big or small,” reads his obituary, “he loved his family and gave the best hugs ever!”
When he died, he left behind a son who was just 5-years-old at the time.
