News Release
As No Officer Caused or Contributed to Man’s Drug Overdose, SIU Terminates Midland Investigation
Case Number: 21-PCI-249
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the hospital admittance last month of a 24-year-old man who had ingested drugs. Prior to being taken to hospital, the man was lodged in an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cell in Midland.
In the morning of August 9, 2021, the man was arrested in Penetanguishene for assault, taken to the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment, and lodged in a cell. Several hours later, the man notified officers that he had ingested a substantial amount of prescription medication before his arrest. As a result, the man was taken to hospital and treated for a drug overdose. He was subsequently discharged from hospital without any serious injury or deficits.
Director Martino concluded that there was nothing in the record to suggest that any of the involved officers caused or contributed to the man’s overdose, or admission to hospital, in any manner that could attract criminal sanction. As such, 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES