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UPDATED: Body of man found in Inuvik identified as Richard Binder Jr.

BINDER-2

The body of a man found over the weekend near Inuvik has been identified as 35-year-old Richard Binder Jr., say RCMP.

His body was located near Big Lake in the Inuvik area of Nov. 3.

Binder was wanted by Inuvik RCMP who asked for the public’s help in finding him on Oct. 29.

Binder was facing charges of assault causing bodily harm, resisting a police officer and failing to comply with a recognizance, RCMP tell News/North.

RCMP say they're now launching an “external investigation into the disappearance of Binder.” who was in contact with Mounties on Oct. 25 at approximately 10: 30 a.m.

“Binder Jr. had been advised by RCMP on Oct. 25 that he was under arrest, and he consequently fled,” stated RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon in an email to News/North.

“So the RCMP had official contact with him,” she added.

Under RCMP policy, the brief contact is still considered an “in custody event” that warrants an external investigation, stated York-Condon.

Anytime someone dies while in RCMP custody, an outside investigation is ordered.

In most jurisdictions, these reviews are carried out by an independent oversight body, but in NWT a similar agency doesn't exist.

External reviews are farmed out to other police forces outside of the territory.

As such, Edmonton Police Services will conduct the external probe, stated RCMP.

Anyone with information related to the whereabouts of Binder from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3 is asked to call Inuvik RCMP at 867-777-1111.