News Release
SIU Concludes Death Investigation in Timmins
Case Number: 14-OCD-092
Other News Releases Related to Case 14-OCD-092
The Acting Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge any officer with the Timmins Police Service (TPS) with a criminal offence in relation to the death of 56-year-old Paul Mattinas in April of this year.
The SIU assigned two investigators and one forensic investigator to probe the circumstances of this incident. As part of the investigation, five officers were interviewed. As well, the location where Mr. Mattinas’ body was discovered was examined and photographed.
The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22, 2014:
• On April 21, 2014, shortly after 7:00 p.m., TPS was notified about a man in distress on Rea Street South. Three police officers responded and located Mr. Mattinas.
• The officers noted that Mr. Mattinas smelled of alcohol and was having trouble standing. He was unable to provide an address to which he could be taken.
• The officers had all dealt with Mr. Mattinas in the past but were particularly concerned on this occasion as his behaviour seemed peculiar.
• Mr. Mattinas was taken into custody and brought back to the police station.
• At the station, the officer-in-charge determined that Mr. Mattinas required medical attention and directed that he be taken to hospital.
• Mr. Mattinas was transported to Timmins District Hospital and released from police custody into the care of the medical staff. The TPS had no further involvement with Mr. Mattinas that evening.
• He was released from hospital at about 9:55 p.m.
• The following morning at 6:50 a.m. officers discovered Mr. Mattinas’ body in the parking lot of the Timmins food bank on Spruce Street North.
Acting Director Joseph Martino concluded, “The precise circumstances leading to Mr. Mattinas’ death remain unknown to the SIU. The pathologist at autopsy reported that the death was related to “blunt impact to the head and neck” and noted that there were “hyper extension cervical spine injuries”. One can only speculate as to the manner in which Mr. Mattinas met his demise; perhaps he simply fell and struck his head on the ground. Be that as it may, as far as the SIU’s jurisdiction is concerned, I am satisfied that the officers who arrested Mr. Mattinas and then dealt with him during his very brief period in their custody acted lawfully and with due care throughout.”
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations