News Release
CPR Administration did not Contribute to Man’s Death in North Bay; SIU Terminates Investigation
Case Number: 20-OCD-190
Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OCD-190
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the death of a 35-year-old man last month in North Bay.
In the early afternoon of July 29, 2020, North Bay Police Service officers were called to assist with a suspected drug-overdose victim. An officer arrived at the scene and provided CPR for a short period prior to the paramedics assuming care of the man. The man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries – which included a statement from a civilian eyewitness in whose apartment the man fell into medical distress and received care from the officer – I am satisfied that there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the officer is concerned in relation to the man’s death. The officer did not cause or contribute to the man’s death in any fashion that could conceivably attract criminal sanction. His involvement was brief and consisted of emergency first aid. Accordingly, the SIU investigation is hereby discontinued and the file is closed.
”While the cause of the man’s death remains pending at this time, it is suspected to be related to a drug-overdose.”
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