News Release
SIU Investigates Custody Death in Windsor
Case Number: 05-OCD-033
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-OCD-033
At approximately 12:07 p.m. that date, Windsor Police Service (WPS) officers responded to a report of a man climbing Ambassador Bridge. WPS officers arrived and attempted to talk with the man who was standing in the support structure of the bridge. The man fell approximately 100 feet from the bridge and landed on a grassy area. The police immediately attended and administered first aid. The man was taken to Hotel Dieu Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was 28 years of age.
Five SIU investigators are probing the circumstances and the extent of police involvement in the man's death. The SIU has designated 3 witness and 1 subject officer from the WPS. A post mortem examination is scheduled for later today.
The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-2293 or 1-800-787-8529.
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