News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Drug Overdose in OPP Huron County Cell

Case Number: 26-PCI-152   

Mississauga, ON (24 July, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the drug overdose suffered by a 35-year-old man in custody. On March 31, 2026, the man was arrested for outstanding warrants. He was searched and taken to the detachment in Clinton where he was searched again. When the man was seen hunched over the sink and toilet area, the man was removed from his cell and a search was done where officers found a plastic bag of with narcotic residue in his sock. Shortly after, the man became unresponsive and had a seizure. Officers provided naloxone and called paramedics. EMS took the man to hospital for treatment of serious medical issues, including a multidrug overdose.

Director Martino found that the searches appeared to be thorough, and officers acted quickly to provide medical care. 

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