Two Yellowknife RCMP officers charged in 2025 in-custody death
Const. Nick Ash and Const. Brent Young face charges of criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide necessities of life.
YELLOWKNIFE — The RCMP has charged two of its own Yellowknife officers in the 2025 death of a man who died while detained in a police vehicle.
Const. Nick Ash and Const. Brent Young are each charged with causing death by criminal negligence and failure to provide the necessities of life, police said.
The Alberta RCMP, which led the investigation, said the charges stem from an incident on March 12, 2025.
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Officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a business on 50 Street in Yellowknife around 4 p.m. that day.
They detained a man, 56-year-old Lawrence Blackduck, who was showing signs of intoxication.
The RCMP said the officers placed Blackduck in a police cruiser while they gathered more information at the scene.
"Upon return to the vehicle, the officers noticed that the male was unresponsive," the RCMP said in a statement.
Life-saving measures were performed immediately and emergency medical services were contacted.
He was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, the RCMP says, after life-saving measures were attempted and paramedics were called.
The RCMP did not give further details about the officers’ alleged conduct which gave rise to the charges.
Officers suspended, court date set
"Both officers will be suspended from duty immediately and are scheduled to appear in Territorial Court on November 24, 2026," according to the RCMP.
The Northwest Territories does not have its own police watchdog to investigate incidents where members of the public are harmed by police.
When an incident takes place, investigators with the RCMP in Alberta are dispatched.
RCMP pledges accountability after review
Chief Superintendent Dyson Smith of the Northwest Territories RCMP extended his condolences to Blackduck’s family and community and called the incident “deeply troubling.”
"We are deeply saddened that a man lost his life while in police custody and extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends and community of Mr. Blackduck," wrote Smith.
"This is a difficult day for our organization and the communities we serve. We recognize the seriousness of this incident and remain committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining public trust and confidence," Smith wrote in a statement.
Smith says the RCMP recognize the “deeply troubling” nature of the matter and acknowledge how the incident has shaken public trust.
The national police service says it conducted an internal review in the aftermath of the incident.
Smith requested that the RCMP’s Indigenous, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal Policing National Criminal Operations unit conduct an independent officer review to identify policy, training or procedural gaps.
The NWT RCMP say the review resulted in national policy and RCMP Depot training curriculum amendments related to in-vehicle detention.
"Any allegations of wrongdoing are fully investigated in the interest of transparency and the maintenance of public trust and confidence," Smith wrote.
Lawrence Blackduck was a member of the Tlicho Nation in the Northwest Territories.
With files from Global News, The Globe and Mail and APTN News