News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Mono Township Death
Case Number: 09-OCD-237
Other News Releases Related to Case 09-OCD-237
The SIU assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident.
The SIU investigation determined that on September 12th, 2009, just shortly after midnight, OPS officers attended at a residence in Orangeville after learning that 39-year-old Heidi Ferguson had been shot. She was airlifted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto where she was pronounced dead. Meanwhile, the subject officer was dispatched to a Mono Township residence to assist in finding 42-year-old Hugh Ferguson, who was suspected in the shooting death of his wife. The officer was maintaining a surveillance position outside the residence when he heard a single gunshot from inside the house at 1:06 am. The subject officer remained outside of the house, while the Ontario Provincial Police Tactics and Rescue Unit entered the residence. In the master bedroom, they found Mr. Ferguson deceased with a gunshot wound to his chest.
Director Scott said, "A handgun was found on the bed and a handwritten note that could be construed as a suicide note was found in the kitchen. By all accounts, Mr. Ferguson committed suicide on his own accord and the subject officer was not involved in any way in the decedent's decision or action to end his own life."
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