News Release
No Basis to Charge Officer in Connection with Man’s Death in Lac Seul
Case Number: 19-POD-275
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-POD-275
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, says he is unable to form reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 38-year-old man in Kejick Bay, Lac Seul First Nation, on November 19, 2019.
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