News Release

News Release

SIU Terminates Investigation into Woman’s Drug Overdose in Timmins

Case Number: 25-PCI-414   

Mississauga, ON (7 January, 2026) ---
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into the hospitalization of a 44-year-old woman after she ingested cocaine during an interaction with an Ontario Provincial Police officer in Timmins.

In the early hours of October 13, 2025, the woman, a passenger in a pickup truck driven by her husband, was arrested in the parking lot of a Tim Hortons. While the officer checked on their wellbeing, the officer observed a quantity of suspected narcotics on the driver’s lap and inquired about it.  The woman quickly ingested the substance and was subsequently transported to the hospital, where she treated for a cocaine overdose. Evidence suggests the woman ingested the substance voluntarily. On this record, it was apparent police did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal liability in connection with her hospitalization. Accordingly, there being patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the police was concerned, the file has been closed.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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