News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Sarnia Death
Case Number: 07-OCD-040
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-OCD-040
Mr. Anderson died on February 24, 2007 while in police custody. Five SIU investigators were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding his death.
The SIU investigation revealed that on February 24, at approximately 9:21 p.m., three SPS officers responded to a domestic complaint on Vidal Street South in Sarnia. The officers arrested Mr. Anderson after he falsely misidentified himself as being the one who committed the assault. Mr. Anderson started to resist the officers' efforts to try and handcuff him and there was a brief struggle in the hallway of the apartment. The officers gained physical control of Mr. Anderson and escorted him to the cruiser as he continued to struggle.
The police arrived with Mr. Anderson at the police station at 9:47 p.m. Mr. Anderson was coherent but appeared to be a little unsteady as he walked into the station. Approximately two minutes later, he fell to the floor. The paramedics arrived at 9:58 p.m. and started CPR. Mr. Anderson was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A post mortem examination concluded Mr. Anderson died of a heart attack.
Based on all the available evidence, Director Cornish concluded, "The officers had a duty to render medical care as soon as it became clear that Mr. Anderson was in medical distress. I believe that the care provided by the officers at the station fell within the level prescribed by the criminal law. Nothing that the officers did caused the death of Mr. Anderson."
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