News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Death of Teenager in Timmins
Case Number: 21-OCD-104
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OCD-104
Witness Assistance
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Timmins Police Service (TPS) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death last year of a 16-year-old male.
On April 4, 2021, paramedics and TPS officers were dispatched to a residence for a male in medical distress. Upon arriving on the second floor of the home, officers observed a father attempting to control his son. Unable to calm the teenager, officers handcuffed him so that paramedics could assess the situation. It was determined he should be taken to hospital. The teenager was brought down the stairs and placed in a police cruiser. While on the way to hospital, he slipped off the rear seats so that his upper body was between the rear seats and the back of the front seats. Once in the hospital’s ambulance bay, a paramedic observed the teenager through the now open door and alerted the others that he was vital signs absent. The teenager was provided emergency care, and then taken into the hospital on a stretcher. He was eventually transferred to the ICU and placed on life support. He passed away the following day.
Director Martino was not satisfied on reasonable grounds that the officer’s conduct transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law. There was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case and the file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES