News Release
SIU Investigating Man’s Death in Chatham
Case Number: 19-OCD-183
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OCD-183
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 35-year-old man yesterday in Chatham.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- At approximately 7 p.m. on August 6, 2019, Emergency Medical Services attended a residence in the area of Victoria Avenue and Grand Avenue East to tend to a man in medical distress.
- Due to the man's behaviour, paramedics requested Chatham-Kent Police Service officers also attend for assistance.
- The man was transported to the hospital in an ambulance with the police.
- Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the man went vital signs absent and was later pronounced dead.
Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to this incident. The post-mortem took place this morning.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.
If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php
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