News Release

News Release

Update: Police Dive Team Locates Man who Went Missing in Ottawa River; SIU Releases Identity

Case Number: 20-PCD-208   

Other News Releases Related to Case 20-PCD-208

SIU Investigating After Man Goes Missing in Ottawa River
No Criminal Wrongdoing Found in Relation to Drowning Death of Man in Clarence-Rockland

Mississauga, ON (27 August, 2020) ---
On August 22, 2020, a 71-year-old man jumped into the Ottawa River in Clarence-Rockland following the arrival of police officers in the area. Efforts were made to locate the man, but this was to no avail.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on August 25, 2020, members of the Ontario Provincial Police dive team recovered the man’s body approximately 120 metres east of where he had jumped in.

In accordance with the Special Investigations Unit’s name release policy which requires consent from next of kin, the Unit is now able to identify the man as Jean-Guy Meloche.

The SIU’s investigation continues. The post-mortem was conducted yesterday in Ottawa.


If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.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

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