News Release

SIU Investigates (Custody Death, Norfolk)

Case Number: 08-PCD-115   

TORONTO (23 June, 2008) --- The Special Investigations Unit has sent four investigators and two forensic investigators to Norfolk to probe the circumstances of the arrest of a 36 year old man by members of the Ontario Provincial Police.

On Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at approximately 10:30 AM police responded to a report of an unwanted guest on Front Road in Norfolk. During the arrest an officer deployed a Taser and the man was taken into custody. The man was then taken to the Simcoe OPP Detachment for further investigation where he went into medical distress. EMS responded and he was taken to Norfolk General Hospital. He was later pronounced dead.

The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at
1-800-787-8529.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES