News Release

SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Seizure in Peterborough Cell

Case Number: 23-OCI-089   

Mississauga, ON (12 July, 2023) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a 47-year-old man who had been taken to hospital with an apparent seizure.

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on March 19, 2023, the man was arrested by Peterborough Police Service officers for public intoxication and taken to a cell at the station. While in the cell, he suffered a seizure and was taken to hospital in an ambulance. 

As the man refused to sign a medical release or discuss the details of his time in custody, this left patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer. It would appear officers did nothing to cause or contribute to his self-described medical condition.

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