A prisoner has reportedly died of a drug overdose at the Okanagan Correctional Center in British Columbia.
The man who passed was identified as Kenneth (Kenny) Patrick Morrison. He was in custody awaiting trial for attempted murder in relation to an armed carjacking in Kelowna’s Glenmore neighbourhood earlier this year.
He was set to go before a judge for a bail hearing this week in Kelowna.
“BC Corrections maintains zero-tolerance for illegal drugs within correctional centres and has stringent security measures in place to deal with contraband, which includes illegal drugs and unauthorized controlled substances,” a statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said.
It added that “any death in custody is a tragedy and our thoughts are with this individual’s family and friends at this time.”
According to statistics from the BC Coroners Service, eight illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred in correctional facility/police cells in 2021, and four have been reported for 2022.
