News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Medical Episode in Sudbury Cell

Case Number: 25-OCI-225   

Mississauga, ON (8 May, 2026) ---
In the afternoon of May 31, 2025, a 43-year-old woman was lodged in a Greater Sudbury Police Service cell following her arrest earlier that day. Asked whether she had consumed any alcohol or drugs, the woman answered in the negative. A search prior to her placement in cells did not reveal any drugs. At approximately 4:45 p.m., the woman told a guard she had consumed fentanyl in the cell. She was transported to hospital and medically cleared. She was returned to the police station, strip searched by two female officers and returned to her cell. The following day, it was noticed that the woman’s breathing was somewhat laboured. Paramedics arrived on scene and the woman was taken to hospital. She would remain in hospital for several days for treatment of drug overdose and 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 woman’s condition.

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