News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Death of Man in Thunder Bay
Case Number: 18-OCD-096
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-OCD-096
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the death last month of a 62-year-old man in Thunder Bay.
At 7:33 a.m. on April 1, 2018 – as a result of a disturbance call – Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officers were dispatched to an apartment building located in the area of South Water Street and Cumberland Street South. While the officers were en route, a 911 call was received from the same building from a woman who reported that a friend had just jumped over the balcony of a third-floor apartment to the ground below. Upon arrival, the officers located the man who lay motionless. He was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Director Loparco said, “The evidence is clear that the man’s death was caused by his descent from the balcony prior to the arrival of the police. Accordingly, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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