News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Drug Overdose in London Police Custody

Case Number: 26-OCI-051   

Mississauga, ON (29 May, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a London Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the drug overdose suffered by a 35-year-old man while he was in police custody. On January 31, 2026, the man was arrested for several outstanding warrants following a call to police about a man kicking a door at a Pioneer Gas Station on Huron Street and Highbury Avenue North.

The officer handcuffed him and he was subjected to two pat-down searches. While en route to the police station, the man was observed to have something in his mouth and told the officer he had consumed fentanyl. The officer pulled over and called an ambulance. He was treated in hospital and released back into police custody the following day. 

Director Martino was unable to reasonably conclude that the officer’s failure to detect the drugs in the man’s possession amounted to a marked departure from a reasonable standard of care, particularly when it remains unclear where exactly the drugs were concealed before they were accessed by him.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): 

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