News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Illness While Lodged in London Police Service Cell

Case Number: 25-OCI-487   

Mississauga, ON (27 March, 2026) ---
In the afternoon of November 26, 2025, a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with a stolen automobile. He was searched at the scene and transported to the London Police Service headquarters where he was lodged in a cell at about 5:45 p.m. He told police that he had consumed heroin a couple of hours before his arrest and explained he would become sick in his cell once the effects of the drug wore off. The man was monitored by special constables while in cells. He appeared to sleep for most of his time in custody. At about 7:40 a.m., the man had just woken when he started to vomit.  He was removed from the cell and transported to hospital where he was treated for 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 man’s illness.

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