The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the in-custody death of a man who had faced robbery and weapons charges connected to an incident at a high-end Vancouver clothing store.
Douglas Gordon Ewing, 67, had been charged with robbery, uttering threats to cause death, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose in connection with an incident at downtown Vancouver Holt Renfrew outlet.
The case was before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge John Milne Jan. 16.
Crown prosecutor James Boxhall said documents were before the court confirming Ewing’s death.
As a result, Milne abated the charges, meaning an end to the case.
Now, however, the coroners service confirms it is investigating Ewing’s death.
“It’s an open investigation, I’m not able to provide any further details about his death,” service spokesperson Amber Schinkel told Glacier Media. “Once they’ve examined all evidence available to them, a coroner will determine whether an inquest will be directed. “
Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers responded to Holt Renfrew just before noon on Dec. 30 after 911 callers reported someone had entered the store, threatened to shoot staff and attempted to steal merchandise.
Officers arrested the suspect outside the store, with help from a witness.
“Following the arrest, police seized two improvised explosive devices, a firearm, and other weapons,” police said in a news release. “The explosive devices were later rendered safe by explosive technicians from VPD’s Emergency Response Section.”
When Ewing appeared Jan. 3, he appeared to have two black eyes as he appeared on the screen.
He told Judge Donna Senniw “he was beaten badly by security.”
He was due to have a bail hearing Jan. 8 but that didn’t happen.
Ewing was being held at North Fraser Pretrial Centre.
