News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDMONTON, AB, December 25, 2004 - At approximately 1010hrs on December 25, 2004, offender Todd Wesley Pruden was discovered by the Stan Daniels Healing Center (SDHC) staff in his bed. All appearances at that time indicated that the offender was deceased. SDHC staff immediately contacted the Edmonton Police Services and Emergency Medical Services. There was immediate response from these respective services to SDHC. Initial reports from Emergency Medical Services and the Edmonton Police Service indicate that the offender died as a result of a drug overdose and foul play was ruled out. Time or specific cause of death has not been determined at the time of this release.

Todd Wesley Pruden is a 42 year old male serving his first federal term of incarceration for robbery - all other, fail to appear, fail to attend, fraudulently obtain food/lodging, fail to comply, and theft under. The offender was serving a 2 year 30 day sentence commencing March 22, 2004.

The Stan Daniels Healing Center is operated by the Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) and is located at 9516-101 Ave in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. NCSA provides a range of cultural and correctional programs both to offenders on conditional release and minimum security inmates through an agreement with Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. At the time of this incident, there were 22 minimum security inmates and 30 conditionally released offenders residing at the Stan Daniels Healing Center.

The Correctional Service of Canada and the Native Counselling Services of Alberta will be conducting a review into the circumstances surrounding this incident.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Jodi McIsaac
Acting Director
Stan Daniels Healing Center
Native Counselling Services of Alberta
(780) 495-3748