News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Chatham-Kent Investigation

Case Number: 25-OCI-483   

Mississauga, ON (25 March, 2026) ---
In the afternoon of November 26, 2025, a 34-year-old man was arrested for drug trafficking following a traffic stop by Chatham-Kent Police Service officers. A warrant authorizing a search of the man’s residence for evidence of drug trafficking was in effect at the time. An officer searched the man at the scene and confiscated a quantity of crack cocaine and fentanyl. The man was transported to the police station and subjected to another search of his clothing, this time with negative results. While lodged in a cell, the man began to vomit. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with opioid withdrawal. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the events under investigation.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES