News Release
SIU Ceases Investigation into Man’s Drug Overdose in Peel Police Custody
Case Number: 22-OCI-289
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a drug overdose suffered by a 37-year-old man while in the custody of Peel Regional Police officers in Mississauga last November.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of body-worn camera footage, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. On November 1, 2022, the man was arrested for assault in his residence in the area of Ninth Line and Derry Road. Shortly after he was handcuffed, the man collapsed in the officers’ presence. The man was taken to hospital, where he was treated for a drug overdose. The man had consumed an excess of medications ahead of the police arrival at his house. In the circumstances, there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the officers’ potential criminal liability was concerned in connection with the man’s overdose.
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
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Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES