News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Woman in OPP Custody

Case Number: 16-PCD-229   

Mississauga, ON (9 September, 2016) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit has been called to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman who was in Ontario Provincial Police custody in Elgin County.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • In the afternoon of September 7, 2016, London Police officers were called to the intersection of Highbury Avenue North and Trafalgar Street.  The officers were responding to reports of a woman obstructing traffic in the intersection.
  • A 39-year-old woman was arrested.
  • The woman was transported to the Elgin County OPP detachment on an outstanding warrant.
  • Just after 7:30 p.m., she was rushed to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  
    
Four investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to investigate this incident.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.
 

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

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