News Release
SIU Appeals for Witnesses in the Investigation of A Custody Death Involving the Niagara Regional Police
Case Number: 08-OCD-199
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OCD-199
On Saturday September 20, 2008 shortly before midnight, officers responded to calls from residents on Woodsview Avenue in Grimsby about a man breaking into vehicles along the street. When officers arrived, they found a suspect being held by a member of the public. A short time after being handcuffed, the suspect collapsed at the scene. He was taken to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital where he later died.
The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Daniel Kindree of Grimbsy.
An autopsy held today was inconclusive; no anatomical cause of death was found. Toxicology tests have been ordered to be carried at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto to determine a cause of death.
The SIU's Affected Person's Coordinator is assisting the family in dealing with the death.
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The SIU is appealing for anyone, who either witnessed this incident or may have any information about Mr. Kindree's whereabouts prior to his death, to contact the Unit at 1-800-787-8529, extension 1925.
The SIU has assigned eight field investigators and forensic experts to this case. Five Niagara Regional Police officers have been designated - one subject officer and four witness officers - to be interviewed.
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