News Release
SIU Closes Sioux Lookout Death Investigation
Case Number: 11-OCD-045
Mississauga (23 March, 2011) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has closed its investigation into the death of a 63-year-old Summer Beaver Reserve man on March 15, 2011. The SIU assigned three investigators and one forensic investigator to probe the circumstances of this incident.
The SIU investigation determined that on March 15, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Albert Moonias was arrested by the OPP and lodged in a cell at the detachment. At 2:30 p.m. Mr. Moonias was found to be in medical distress. He was transported to Sioux Lookout Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
On March 17, 2011 a post mortem was conducted on Mr. Moonias and it was determined that he had passed away as a result of a heart attack. There was no evidence of trauma to the body to suggest that he was involved in a fight or restrained.
The Director of the SIU Ian Scott has concluded the man died as a result of a condition unrelated to any actions by the police and accordingly has closed the SIU’s file on the death.
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