Inmate's death in P.E.I. correctional centre doesn't appear suspicious, RCMP says

The death of an inmate this week while in custody at P.E.I.'s jail does not appear suspicious, said Cpl. Gavin Moore with the P.E.I. RCMP.

The provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety confirmed to CBC Friday that the inmate died at the Provincial Correctional Centre in Winsloe on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Moore said police received the report of a sudden death at the correctional centre early Wednesday morning.

He said the RCMP's role is to work with the P.E.I. Coroner's Office to determine whether any criminal activity was associated with the inmate's death.

P.E.I. RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Gavin Moore said the inmate's death does not appear to be suspicious at this time. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

"Any time there's a death outside the hospital setting, police are looking at the scene, they're looking for witnesses, they're looking for information concerning what was going on the last time the person was seen alive," he said.

"In this particular case, based on the early indications there does not appear to be anything suspicious in nature."

Because the death occurred in the Provincial Correctional Centre, Moore said investigators will have plenty of information at their disposal, including witnesses and surveillance camera footage.

Neither the RCMP nor the Department of Justice and Public Safety could provide any further details because the investigation is ongoing.

This is the third death of a person in provincial custody in less than a year.

In February 2023, an involuntary patient died at Prince County Hospital in Summerside. Then in August, the coroner's office said it was investigating a second death at a provincial facility.

The chief coroner has called an inquest into the Prince County Hospital death, but no further details were available about the August incident.