News Release
File Closed without Charges in Death of Mississauga Man
Case Number: 15-OCD-249
Other News Releases Related to Case 15-OCD-249
The Acting Director of the Special Investigations Unit has decided against criminal charges in an incident in which Peel Regional Police officers responded to a residence where a 58-year-old man committed suicide.
Five investigators and two forensic investigators were assigned to this incident.
The SIU interviewed three civilian witness and four witness officers. One subject officer submitted to an SIU interview and provided a copy of his duty notes. The second subject officer did not participate in an SIU interview and did not provide a copy of his duty notes, as is his legal right.
The SIU investigation found the following:
- Just before 8:00 p.m. on October 27, 2015, Peel Regional Police received a call about a man who was armed with knives and had threatened two family members before they fled a home on Glen Erin Drive south of Britannia Road.
- Officers responded, as did the Tactical and Rescue Unit (TRU).
- As the incident involved weapons and a potentially barricaded individual, the officers planned to contain the scene and wait for an opportunity to arrest the man.
- The plan changed when officers learned the man was suicidal. At that point, TRU officers entered the house.
- Using a “scout recon” robot, the man was located in the basement of the home. Officers and paramedics attempted to revive the man.
- He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.
Acting Director Joseph Martino said, “It is apparent on this record that the police conducted themselves professionally throughout the events in question and did what they could to protect the man and his family. The TRU team was mobilized with dispatch and at the home within minutes of the call to police. At the scene, they proved themselves flexible - adapting their plans quickly to changing circumstances, and resourceful - skilfully deploying a robotic reconnaissance device to assist in their rescue operation. In the final analysis, though they were unable to prevent the man from taking his life, I am satisfied that the involved officers exercised a level of care in their tactics and conduct that fell well within the limits prescribed by the criminal law. Accordingly, this file is closed with no charges laid.”
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