News Release
Investigation Complete into Woman Hospitalized for Drinking Cleaning Solution in Niagara Falls Cell
Case Number: 23-OCI-046
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe any Niagara Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the hospitalization of a 32-year-old woman who ingested a toxic substance while she was in custody. On February 14, 2023, the woman slipped her arm under the cell door and took cleaning solution from a nearby cleaning cart and drank it. Paramedics were called and took the woman to hospital.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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