News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Sudbury Death
Case Number: 07-OCD-224
Six SIU investigators and two SIU forensic identification technicians (FITs) were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding this death.
The SIU investigators determined that at approximately 7:40 a.m. on November 6, 2007, officers of the GSPS were sent to a call at 115 William St., Garson. When the officers arrived they discovered that a man had barricaded himself inside the home. The officers blocked off the street and cordoned off the home. At 9:00 a.m. the officers spoke with the man in the home and asked him to come outside. The man declined to do so.
The officers lost verbal contact with the man. A short time later the officers heard a gunshot. After trying to raise the man a number of times, the officers entered the home at 10:14 a.m. The man was discovered in the kitchen suffering from a single gunshot wound. The man was later pronounced dead.
Director Cornish stated, “ Officers of the GSPS tactical unit approached the house and asked the man to come out, but the man refused. A short time later the officers heard a gunshot. The officers entered the home and found the man on the floor suffering from a single gunshot wound.â€Â The Director said, "The officers did nothing to cause the man’s unfortunate death.â€Â
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