| Sourced from 4 independent sources (5 reports) · no points in dispute |
The Globe and Mail, APTN News, Yellowknifer, and CBC
Every key fact in this report is confirmed by more than one independent source.
7 key facts · 7 corroborated · none disputed
Why some reports were counted once
The Globe and Mail and Winnipeg Free Press — the same Canadian Press report, counted once.
When several outlets publish the identical article — most often because they all ran the same wire story from an agency like The Canadian Press — we count it as one source, not several. That keeps our source count a measure of independent reporting, not how widely a single story was syndicated.
Allegations described here are not proven in court unless stated.
Lawrence Blackduck, a 56-year-old member of the Tlicho Nation, died while in Yellowknife police custody in 2025. Now, two RCMP officers face criminal charges in connection with his death.
Const. Nick Ash and Const. Brent Young have each been charged with causing death by criminal negligence and failing to provide the necessities of life. Both officers have been suspended from duty and are scheduled to appear in N.W.T. Territorial Court on Nov. 24, 2026.
A death in police custody
The charges stem from March 12, 2025, when officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a Yellowknife business on 50th Street.
Police found Blackduck showing signs of intoxication, arrested him and left him in a police cruiser while they gathered more information at the scene.
When the officers returned to the vehicle, Blackduck was unresponsive. Life-saving measures were attempted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The death of a Tlicho man in the back of a police vehicle has become a deeply troubling case for the force serving the Northwest Territories, raising questions that are now headed before the court.
Alberta RCMP led investigation
The Alberta RCMP conducted and concluded the investigation into Blackduck’s death, leading to charges against Ash and Young.
N.W.T. RCMP Chief Supt. Dyson Smith said the force was “deeply saddened” by Blackduck’s death and extended condolences to his family, friends and community.
“This is a difficult day for our organization and the communities we serve,” Smith said in a statement. “We recognize the seriousness of this incident and remain committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining public trust and confidence.”
Smith also described the incident as “deeply troubling,” acknowledging the damage an in-custody death can inflict on public confidence in police.
Changes to detention procedures
The RCMP says it carried out an internal review after Blackduck’s death, examining policy and training connected to in-vehicle detention.
That review resulted in changes to policy and training related to people detained in police vehicles, according to Smith. The force has not provided further details about the alleged conduct that gave rise to the criminal charges.
The changes place the circumstances of Blackduck’s death at the centre of a broader review of how police handle people in their custody, particularly when they are held in a cruiser while officers continue their work at a scene.
Court appearance set for November
Ash and Young remain suspended from duty as the case moves into the court system.
Their Nov. 24 appearance in N.W.T. Territorial Court will mark the next public step in a case involving the death of a 56-year-old Tlicho Nation member, two criminally charged officers and an RCMP force that says it has changed its procedures in response.
For Blackduck’s family, friends and community, Smith said the force’s condolences are sincere. “We recognize that this incident is deeply troubling,” he said, adding that the RCMP remains committed to accountability and public trust.
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