News Release
SIU Updates Investigation into St. Catharines Death
Case Number: 05-OCD-161
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-OCD-161
SIU Concludes Investigation into Custody Death in St. Catharines
On October 10, 2005, at about 3:00 p.m., Andrew Campbell was arrested by the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) for robbery at a variety store on Pine Street North in Thorold. He was lodged in a police cell at 11 Division in St. Catharines until about 7:30 a.m. the following morning when he was found to be in medical distress. Mr. Campbell was taken to St. Catharines General Hospital where he died.
As part of the investigation, SIU investigators will be attending the post mortem examination scheduled for today. Investigators will also be reviewing police reports and videotapes.
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