News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Man’s Death in Thunder Bay

Case Number: 20-OCD-300   

Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OCD-300

No Charges to Issue in Relation to Man’s Death in Thunder Bay

Mississauga, ON (13 November, 2020) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 55-year-old man on November 5, 2020. The SIU was made aware of the man’s death on November 9, 2020.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 4 p.m., on November 4, 2020, officers with the Thunder Bay Police Service attended a Starbucks on Fort William Road after receiving a call for assistance. It was reported that two individuals had been trespassing.
  • An officer placed one of the individuals – a 55-year-old man – in a cruiser and proceeded to drive him home. Based on the man not looking well, the officer then proceeded to take the man to the hospital.
  • The following day, while in hospital, the man died.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. The post-mortem took place yesterday morning in Toronto. At this time, one subject officer and three witness officers have been designated.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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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