News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Death in Thunder Bay
Case Number: 24-OCD-225
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 39-year-old man. The man was taken to hospital after he was found in his cell in medical distress on May 28, 2024. The man died in hospital in Thunder Bay three days later.
Director Joseph Martino found the officers comported themselves with due regard for the man’s health and wellbeing. By the time the man was placed in a cell, he had been searched three times and none revealed the presence of drugs on his person that he might have accessed during his time in cells. Director Martino also concluded that an officer took note of the man’s distress before a scheduled cell check and acted quickly to get help, with officers administering CPR and naloxone.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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