News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Man in Perth

Case Number: 15-PCD-063   

Mississauga (8 April, 2015) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a 63-year-old man this morning in Perth.

Preliminary information indicates the following:

• On Monday April 6, 2015, the man was arrested in his vehicle while in a Kemptville park. He was taken to hospital;
• The man was released last night, and subsequently taken to the Ontario Provincial Police Perth detachment and lodged in a cell;
• This morning the man complained of shortness of breath. He was taken by ambulance to the Perth and Smith Falls District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The SIU has assigned two investigators and one forensic investigator to probe the circumstances of this incident. 

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact the lead investigator at 416-622-2290 or 1-800-787-8529 extension 2290.

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