News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Man in Thunder Bay

Case Number: 17-OCD-182   

Other News Releases Related to Case 17-OCD-182

No Charges to Issue in Relation to Man’s Death in Thunder Bay

Mississauga, ON (20 July, 2017) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is examining the circumstances surrounding the death of a 50-year-old man who was lodged in a Thunder Bay police station cell last night.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, Thunder Bay Police Service officers responded to an address on Fort William Road to deal with an individual. EMS personnel were also present, and they medically cleared the man.
  • Shortly after, the man was taken to the Thunder Bay police station where he was lodged in a cell.
  • Shortly after midnight, the man was found not breathing. CPR was commenced, and EMS was contacted.
  • The man was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m. on July 20, 2017.
    
Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to this incident.

At this time, four witness officers and one subject officer have been designated.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 ext. 2293. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

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

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