Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a 47-year-old man after he was found unconscious by RCMP officers at a Whitecourt hotel and later died there. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigates potential criminal offences involving police in the province.

After 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2026, officers responded to a call about a man who was possibly intoxicated. They found him unconscious in a hallway and, with help from hotel staff, took him into his suite. Officers then left, and the man was alone.

Shortly after midnight on Sept. 18, his wife returned to the hotel and found him in medical distress in the room. Paramedics and firefighters attended, but he died at the scene despite their life-saving efforts.

The man was a long-term resident of the hotel, according to the Edmonton Journal. CTV News Edmonton also reported that he had reportedly been living there. Whitecourt is about 178 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, or about 180 kilometres, according to CTV.

ASIRT is investigating the circumstances of the man’s death and his interaction with the Mounties. Neither source reported further details about the investigation or any next steps.

Based on reporting by Edmonton Journal and CTV News Edmonton.