News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Woman in London

Case Number: 19-OCD-264   

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Mississauga, ON (18 November, 2019) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 28-year-old woman last week in London.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • On the afternoon of Saturday, November 2, 2019, London Police Service (LPS) officers arrested the woman. She was taken to the police station where she was lodged in a cell.
  • At approximately 9:45 a.m. the next day, the woman was found in her cell in medical distress. Naloxone was administered and the woman was taken to hospital.
  • On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the woman was pronounced dead in hospital. 
  • The post-mortem took place in London on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

On Sunday, November 3, 2019, the SIU was notified by LPS of the woman’s hospitalization. Based on the information received by the SIU at the time, it was determined the incident did not fall under the SIU’s jurisdiction. The SIU did not invoke its mandate, but continued to monitor the woman’s condition. On Friday, November 8, 2019, the SIU invoked its mandate upon learning further information. Four investigators and one forensic investigator were assigned. 

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

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