News Release
SIU Investigates Custody Death in Ottawa
Case Number: 05-OCD-085
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-OCD-085
Mr. Michaud was a passenger on an Air Canada flight from Halifax that morning. At approximately 9:05 a.m., airport staff and passengers saw him acting in a strange manner in an arrivals area. Airport staff intervened to assist until officers from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and staff of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) arrived. OPS officers arrested Mr. Michaud, who went into medical distress while being treated by EMS. He was then transported to the Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, where he was pronounced dead.
A post mortem examination is taking place today in Ottawa.
The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-641-1879 or 1-800-787-8529.
No further information is available at this time.
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