News Release

News Release

SIU Terminates Investigation After Man’s Hospitalization for Drug Use and Frostbite in London

Case Number: 26-OCI-029   

Mississauga, ON (30 April, 2026) ---
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into the hospitalization of a 40-year-old man after his apprehension by London Police Service in January.

On January 17, 2026, a homeowner called police for assistance as the man, believed to have been suffering from a mental health emergency, stood on the roof of her snow-covered shed with no shoes on. Officers negotiated with the man, and he agreed to come down. Two ladders were positioned against the shed and an officer climbed one of the ladders to direct the man toward the other ladder to come down. While attempting to ensure that the ladder was positioned appropriately for his descent and requesting police adjust its placement, the man lost his balance and fell from the roof, landing in the snow below. Video footage captured the incident. The man was transported to the hospital, where he received treatment related to cocaine use and psychosis, and was diagnosed with frostbite. On this record, there being no indication of any ‘serious injury’ within the mandate of the SIU, the unit was without jurisdiction to investigate the incident.  

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