News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Man in St. Catharines

Case Number: 20-OOD-355   

Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OOD-355

No Charges to Issue in Relation to Man’s Death in St. Catharines

Mississauga, ON (18 December, 2020) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the December 4, 2020 death of a 32-year-old man in St. Catharines. The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) brought the incident to the SIU’s attention on December 16, 2020.

Preliminary information suggests the following: 
  • At approximately 10 p.m. on December 4, 2020, an assist ambulance call came in and NRPS officers were dispatched to the area of Frank Street and Gale Crescent. 
  • Soon after arriving in the area, officers observed a man hanging from a tree. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

There is no indication police were with the man when he died. However, given the reported nature of multiple interactions the police had with the man in the hours before his death, and their proximity to the incident in question, the SIU has opened a file in the matter.

Three investigators have been assigned to the case. 

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 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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