News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Reported Miscarriage Suffered by Woman in Custody in Southern Georgian Bay
Case Number: 21-PCI-226
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a miscarriage reportedly suffered by a woman in the custody in July.
On July 18, 2021, Ontario Provincial Police officers with the Southern Georgian Bay detachment took the woman into custody. Due to concerns about the woman’s wellbeing, officers called paramedics to the station. The woman was taken to hospital and released back into OPP custody early the next day. The woman was reportedly thrown to the floor when being lodged back in the cell, resulting in a miscarriage. However, the results of hospital testing determined the woman was not pregnant at the time.
Director Martino concluded that, based on the evidence gathered, the woman did not suffer a serious injury within the mandate of the SIU, and therefore the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to continue the investigation. The file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES