News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Woman’s Death in Midland
Case Number: 18-POD-245
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-POD-245
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the death of a 31-year-old woman last month in Midland.
On the afternoon of August 19, 2018, Ontario Provincial Police officers with the Southern Georgian Bay detachment responded to a medical distress call at a residence in Midland. When the first officer arrived, another individual was already providing CPR to the 31-year-old woman who was not breathing and had no pulse. The officer took over CPR and administered Narcan spray. Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly after and continued CPR. The woman was transported to hospital where she was placed on a respirator. She died the following day.
Director Loparco said, “The evidence establishes that the woman was already in severe medical distress when the subject officer, and subsequently others, arrived and tried to save her life. As such, 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