News Release
No Criminal Wrongdoing Found in Relation to Arrest of Man in Hawkesbury
Case Number: 19-PCD-112
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-PCD-112
On May 10, 2019, a 31-year-old man passed away at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. He had been admitted to hospital in critical condition on May 2, 2019, following his apprehension by several Ontario Provincial Police officers at a home in Hawkesbury. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that in terms of the force that was used and the care the officers exercised, they acted lawfully throughout their involvement with the man. Accordingly, there is no basis to proceed with charges and the file is closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.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