News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Man’s Death in Fort Erie
Case Number: 21-OCD-018
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OCD-018
On January 13, 2021, paramedics were dispatched to a residence in Fort Erie as a 61-year-old man who resided in the home was experiencing pain and lightheadedness. The man was placed in the ambulance, but due to his extreme agitation, the ambulance pulled over to request the assistance of police. Upon arrival, a Niagara Regional Police Service officer decided to apprehend the man under the Mental Health Act. He and the another officer affixed handcuffs to both of the man’s arms, securing them to the stretcher. En route to the hospital, the man’s condition deteriorated. Once they reached the hospital, the man was quickly placed in the care of the hospital’s emergency department. He passed away in hospital later that day. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer 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