News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Man in Lac Seul

Case Number: 19-POD-275   

Other News Releases Related to Case 19-POD-275

No Basis to Charge Officer in Connection with Man’s Death in Lac Seul

Mississauga, ON (19 November, 2019) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 38-year-old man today in Lac Seul.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 5 p.m. on November 18, 2019, Lac Seul Police Service officers and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a residence after receiving a call about a man who had barricaded himself.
  • Police set up a perimeter and made attempts to contact the man. 
  • On the morning of November 19, 2019, the OPP Tactical Response Unit took control of the scene. Attempts to contact the man continued.
  • Concerned for the man’s well-being, officers entered the residence. Soon after, the man sustained a fatal gunshot wound.

Based on the preliminary information, the fatal gunshot wound is believed to have been self-inflicted A post-mortem is scheduled for Thursday morning in Kenora.

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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