News Release

News Release

Burns to Man in Chatham-Kent a Result of Him Setting Self on Fire; No Criminal Charges to Issue against any Police Officer

Case Number: 17-OOI-167   

Other News Releases Related to Case 17-OOI-167

SIU Investigating Incident in Chatham that Ended with a Man Suffering Severe Burns

Mississauga, ON (17 July, 2018) --- In the late evening hours of June 30, 2017, Chatham-Kent Police Service officers attended a residence to do a well-being check on a 43-year-old man. Officers located the man in the backyard, and attempted to engage with him. During the encounter, the man doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against any of the officers in relation to the third degree burns sustained by the man. 
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=3041.

The Director’s Report was delivered to the Attorney General, as is required by law under the Police Services Act. The Attorney General has directed that the document be posted online. 

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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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES