A security-camera video played Wednesday at a coroner’s inquest into Paul Spencer’s death captured the last few minutes of his life, before he was taken down by security and later died in a seclusion room.
In the video, Spencer is shown approaching a door in an attempt to leave Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Services unit around 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2019.
Spencer, who was on medication for a psychotic disorder, had been picked up by Saanich police Const. Shauntelle Nichols in the early hours of that day under the Mental Health Act, and taken to hospital after his worried mother called Saanich police when he left home with some belongings.
Nichols testified earlier this week that Spencer was paranoid and scared when she located him.
In the video, security guard Guiseppe Moonie-Tkachuk ushers him away from the door, and Spencer moves off.
Nurse Paige Cruse, who testified at the inquest Wednesday, described Spencer as pacing and seemingly anxious — although she said he had been calm prior to that point.
Moonie-Tkachuk told the inquest Spencer kept saying he wanted to leave and was exhibiting “elevated behaviour.”
He said he told Spencer he was going to be taken to a secure room, and that he would be physically escorted if he didn’t go.
Spencer then started moving toward him and wouldn’t stop when told to, Moonie-Tkachuk said, so he decided to take him to the ground in accordance with his training.
“That’s the safest option when a patient is resisting and not following direction.”
Spencer continued to resist and another guard arrived to help, Moonie-Tkachuk said.
The video shows the first guard who steps in striking him on the back of the body before more guards arrive, then Spencer is handcuffed.
Three guards then took him into the room as he shouted and tried to pull away, Moonie-Tkachuk said.
Spencer was uncuffed and wrapped in a blanket “like a burrito,” as is common, so the guards could get out safely, he said.
Spencer was left alone in the room to get out of the blanket, and Moonie-Tkachuk said he accompanied Cruse when she entered the room soon after to give Spencer medication.
The blanket was unwrapped, he said.
Cruse said Spencer was lying down and she saw that he was breathing, but then his breathing stopped.
Moonie-Tkachuk administered CPR right away and a “code blue” was issued to get a medical team to the scene, but Spencer could not be saved.
Cruse said what happened was “so unexpected.”
Paul’s mother, Angela, testified on Monday that she wants to know more about how her son died.
Inquests are not intended to find fault but to determine the facts related to a death, and to come up with recommendations to help prevent deaths in similar situations.
A jury hears evidence from witnesses under oath but jurors don’t make any legal conclusions.
The Spencer inquest is being held before a seven-person jury and is expected to last until Friday.
