News Release
Charges not Warranted in Relation to Man’s Death 1.5 Weeks After Thunder Bay Arrest
Case Number: 20-OCD-047
Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OCD-047
On February 28, 2020, a 29-year-old man was admitted to hospital following his arrest by Thunder Bay Police Service officers. The following morning, he fell into acute medical distress. On March 10, 2020, the man passed away in hospital. Two of the officers who had custody of the man in the hospital when he was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit were identified as the subject officers for purposes of the SIU investigation. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s death.
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