News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Hospitalization in Simcoe
Case Number: 24-PCI-548
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the December hospitalization of a 30-year-old man following his arrest in Simcoe.
In the early morning of December 23, 2024, the man was arrested a short distance from his home in relation to a domestic incident. Prior to police arrival, the man had consumed a significant quantity of alcohol. When located by police, he attempted to swallow a baggie of cocaine. He became unresponsive promptly after being handcuffed and was transported to hospital for emergency care. The man was treated for respiratory distress secondary to airway obstruction caused by the baggie of drugs and alcohol intoxication.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including the review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. As the police had nothing to do with either of the man’s conditions, there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned. The file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES